Passengers Sued Over Imams' Removal

AP ^ | March 30, 2007 | PATRICK CONDON

[rawhide]

Six Muslim men removed from a plane last fall after being accused of suspicious behavior are suing not only the airline but the passengers who complained — a move some fear could discourage travelers from speaking up when they see something unusual.

The civil rights lawsuit, filed earlier this month, has so alarmed some lawyers that they are offering to defend the unnamed "John Doe" passengers free of charge. They say it is vital that the flying public be able to report suspicious behavior without fear of being dragged into court.

"When you drive up the road towards the airport, there's a big road sign that says, `Report suspicious behavior,'" said Gerry Nolting, a Minneapolis lawyer. "There's no disclaimer that adds, `But beware if you do that, you might get sued.'"

The six imams were taken off a Phoenix-bound US Airways flight on Nov. 20 while returning home from a conference of Islamic clerics in Minneapolis.

Other passengers had gotten nervous when the men were seen praying and chanting in Arabic as they waited to board. Some passengers also said that the men spoke of Saddam Hussein and cursed the United States; that they requested seat belt extenders with heavy buckles and stowed them under their seats; that they were moving about and conferring with each other during boarding; and that they sat separately in seats scattered through the cabin.

The plane was cleared for a security sweep, nothing was found, and the jet took off without the imams.

The Muslim clerics say they were humiliated, and are seeking unspecified damages from the airline, the Minneapolis airport and, potentially, the John Does.

Omar Mohammedi, the New York City attorney for the imams, said the intent is not to go after passengers who raise valid concerns about security. But he suggested some passengers may have acted in bad faith out of prejudice.

"As an attorney, I have seen a lot of abuse by the general public when it comes to members of the community creating stories that do not exist," Mohammedi said.

He denied the imams were talking about Saddam, and said that their seats were assigned and that they requested extenders because their seat belts didn't fit.

Some fear such lawsuits could weaken what has become the first line of defense against terrorism since Sept. 11 — an alert public. At airports and train and subway stations around the country, travelers are routinely warned to watch for unattended bags and suspicious activity and to notify authorities.

Ellen Howe, spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration, which oversees security at all U.S. airports, would not comment specifically on the imams' lawsuit. But she said the TSA counts on passengers to help the agency do its job.

"`See something, say something' is certainly a common mantra in this day and age," Howe said. "We would always remind passengers to be both vigilant and thoughtful."

In reaction to the imams' lawsuit, Congress has taken steps to legally protect passengers who report suspicious activity. Earlier this week, the House approved an amendment to a rail transportation security bill that would make passengers immune from such lawsuits, unless they say something they know is false.

Mohammedi said he has not yet identified any of the complaining passengers. An airport police report listed a passenger and two US Airways employees as complaining about the imams. All three had their names blacked out before the lawsuit was filed by invoking a Minnesota law that allows it, airport spokesman Pat Hogan said.

Nolting said he has been contacted by several potential John Does.

Passenger Pat Snelson, who lives in a Twin Cities suburb, said he and his wife were not among those who reported suspicious behavior. But he said his wife noticed the men praying, and he saw them moving around the cabin while others were boarding.

"These guys were up to no good," Snelson said. "We think the airport people did a real good job in taking care of it."

Bomb-sniffing dogs examined the men and their baggage. FBI agents and other federal law enforcement officers questioned the men for several hours before releasing them.

Billie Vincent, a former director of security for the Federal Aviation Administration, said he is troubled by the mere attempt to identify the passengers who raised concerns.

Airline passengers "are your eyes and your ears," said Vincent, who now owns an aviation security company. "If attorneys can get those names and sue them, you put a chilling effect on the whole system."

[Miss Didi]

As Brian Kilmeade pointed out a few weeks ago when this first started, what do we do in NYC? The MTA encourages citizens to report "anything" suspicious when taking mass transit. The ad campaign has been in effect for quite some time now:




The vigilance of all New Yorkers has kept MTA buses, subways, and railroads safe.

The MTA thanks our passengers and reminds them to:

Be alert to unattended packages.
Be wary of suspicious behavior.
Take notice of people in bulky or inappropriate clothing. Report exposed wiring or other irregularities.
Report anyone tampering with surveillance cameras or entering unauthorized areas.
Learn the basics of safe train evacuation.

And remember, if you see something, say something. Alert a police officer, train or bus operator, station personnel or call 888-NYC-SAFE (888-692-7233).

[Joe 6-pack]

I wish they'd come looking for Joe 6-pack.....

[USMCPOP]

When seated next to some of these characters, every passenger is advised to have on hand a large bag of pork rinds or pork scratchings, clearly labeled. If allowed, also a can or two of pork brains in milk gravy. Make sure you offer some to your seatmates. When they decline, say "I don't blame you. If I eat too many, they give me gas." Finish the whole bag, and burp if you can. Wipe your mouth on the sleeve closest to them, then play the "hog the armrest" game.

If you have a laptop, be sure to play some Porky Pig cartoons. Or use a picture of a pet pig for your desktop wallpaper. Or download Joe Cartoon's "Osama Sissy Fight" from someplace like http://www.reupload.com/uploads/osamabox.zip and play it in explorer. It's fun. Or get a good picture of the World Trade Center and just stare at it the entire flight.

The other day, I saw a cute little LED flashlight inside a little pink pig, and it grunted. That would be fun to play with to avoid boredom, or to entertain a child. If you are a sports fan, pick up a copy of "Pigskin: The Early Years of Pro Football". Buy a new pair of pigskin gloves, and try to stretch them in while aboard. If you get odd stares, tell 'em you're "just breaking in a new pair - real pigskin". How are you to know, or care?

If it's a meal flight, always order a Kosher meal, just in case. The when they see you have something different, tell 'em you "always order the Kosher stuff" because, nudge nudge, wink wink, "you never know if there's pork in the regular meals".

There are many ways to while away the time on a flight.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Dennis Miller had a great take on these islamojerks,

http://msunderestimated.com/DennisMillerImams.wmv

[longtermmemmory]

"some say"

HA!

The AP is pushing this slap suit story because they are COUNTING on it.

The MSM is rejoicing at the possibility of silencing people.

as far as the lawyer is concerned in this matter, Rule 11 sanctions should be personally applied.

In fact the airline as a sign of good customer relations should pay for the lawyers for the John Does.

[rawhide]

posted on 03/30/2007 6:12:47 PM EDT by USMCPOP (Father of LCpl. Karl Linn, KIA 1/26/2005 Al Haqlaniyah, Iraq)

Wow!
Sir, I just saw your tag-line, with sorrow I extend my condolences and prayers to you and your family. I say this with tears, may the Lord continue to comfort you on the loss of your dear precious son.

[longtermmemmory]

I would like to see Rule 11 sanctions imposed under the Federal Procedure rules.

Rule 11 sanctions go against the client AND THE LAWYER PERSONALLY. Thus if the client has no money, the John Does can collect 100% from the lawyer.

[steveegg]

Don't sweat it; it happens. At least you covered yourself by saying you didn't have time to read it.

When I insert my foot, I usually don't get that excuse.

[sappy]

next up, suing drug sniffing dogs for embarrasing mules.

[knews_hound]

You got it exactly right.

I wrote this soon after the incident, amazing how I could see this coming a mile away huh?

 Allahboard US Airways.

Cheers,

knewshound

[sirchtruth]

I just heard Sean Hannity say that he is going to have some of those passengers on his Sunday TV show...(I hope they know how dangerous that can be)

If these passangers really get sued and this goes to trial, you can bet enough American's will be so pissed off no middle eastern looking person will ever want to fly in a plane again as long as there would be American's aboard.

It's time to start seriously K'ing some A!!

You may be able to slightly subvert our judicial system scumbags, but you better not mess with real Americans!

[Leatherneck_MT]

Next time the passengers should just send these maggots on to meet allah.

Problem solved and no lawsuit.

New sign at airport should read.

"Warning, if you are an islamic a##hole and think it's funny doing things that you know will make people nervous, prepare to be taken off of your flight or out of the airport in a body bag"

[Lijahsbubbe]

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014120.php

November 21, 2006
Omar Shahin, spokesman for 6 imams removed from flight, doubted Muslims were behind 9/11 and admitted ties to Osama
Omar Shahin is one of the imams removed from a flight in Minneapolis. He was involved with Kind Hearts, which has been closed down for its connections to Hamas. He also acknowledged a connection to Osama bin Laden in the 1990s in a September 28, 2001 story in the Arizona Republic (thanks to Austin): "Arizona Was Home to bin Laden 'Sleeper Cell,'"

http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53057

One of six Muslim imams pulled from a US Airways flight in Minneapolis last night by federal authorities is affiliated with a Hamas-linked organization and acknowledged a connection to Osama bin Laden in the 1990s.

Omar Shahin, who served as a spokesman for the clerics, is a representative of the Kind Hearts Organization, which had its assets frozen by the U.S. Treasury pending an investigation

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/014377.php

How about Omar Shahin, the imams' spokesman and also president of the North American Imams Federation? He is a native of Jordan, who says he became a U.S. citizen in 2003. From 2000 to 2003, Shahin served as president of Islamic Center of Tucson (ICT), that city's largest mosque.
The ICT is well known. The mosque has "an extensive history of terror links," according to terrorism expert Steven Emerson, who testified about terrorist financing before the Senate Banking Committee in July 2005.

The Washington Post described these links in a 2002 article. "Tucson was one of the first points of contact in the United States for the jihadist group that evolved into al Qaeda," the Post reported. And the ICT? It held "basically the first cell of al Qaeda in the United States; that is where it all started," said Rita Katz, a terrorism expert quoted by the Post.

[Cold Heat]

Have not flown since 9/11, and don't intend to start until every one of these nutcases are sent back to Allah or their favorite place that is not in the U.S..

[USMCPOP]

Thank you, Rawhide. Just another day in paradise here. I occasionally vent a little, as you can see. Mostly I try and keep a hand in and look for positive things I can do.

Semper Fidelis.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

The passengers can sue for violation of their RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH and also RIGHT TO SELF DEFENSE !

[Anti-Bubba182]

""These guys were up to no good," Snelson said. "

What the passengers did not realize was that the game from the beginning was to act suspicious, get thrown off the plane, raise hell and sue.

[Not now, Not ever!]

And the ACLU will jump right in to defend the passengers First amendment rights?

Oh yes, I forgot, It's the American Criminal liberties union, silly me.

[Txsleuth]

I certainly share that opinion.

Actually, I think we have been TOO accomodating already.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Suing passengers for the actions of the airline. That'll get squashed in the first court hearing.