Is that anything like double secret probation?
Posted on 05/07/2007 9:28:24 AM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
Muslims say when booking a flight, they feel everyone is watching them. Recently six Muslim Imams were removed from a flight in Minneapolis, sparking the national debate: is there such an issue as "flying while Muslim", racially profiling Muslims after 9-11, or is it just prudent? Toledo area Muslims are aware of the controversy and many say they are deeply offended by it.
Here is what happened: six Imams were traveling from the Minneapolis - St. Paul airport. Police say the men where praying in the airport terminal. Some witnesses said they were praying loudly. Passengers became concerned with the repeated use of the word "Allah" during the prayers. Allah is the Arabic word for God and is always recited in prayers.
In addition, passengers became alarmed with the men's seating arrangements, requests by two for seatbelt extensions and alleged discussions about the U.S. involvement in the Iraq war. Passengers reported this as "suspicious behavior". The Imams were then detained, questioned and banned from U.S. Airways flights. So did the passengers over react?
"In this situation, absolutely, they falsely reported." Dr. Zaheer Hasan from Islamic Center of Greater Toledo says flying as a Muslim is disheartening. "As I board a plane, I see all the eyes tracking me. I see numerous visits by the airline crew. It affects me, but I can bear that."
There comes the time and the place, as some Imams endured, that it is too much.
Nadeem Salem says he is always singled out for random security checks when he flies.
"There is something underneath that is driving this that is really disturbing. I do believe it is racial profiling."
The Imams have now filed discrimination suits against the airline and unnamed passengers. Opponents of the suit say suing passengers will discourage others from reporting suspicious behavior, but some Muslims think differently.
"I think if you legitimately are afraid you are going to say something and you are not going to be concerned about whether someone is going to sue you afterwards."
UT student Sarah Alfaham says the suit makes a statement.
"I think that is really important. You can't be just accusing people for no reason."
Meanwhile, attorney Chereffe Kadri has a different take on the issue. "I have a problem with everybody being the eyes and ears because not everyone is trained, not everybody is well informed."
Kadri believes people need to know more before they jump to conclusions. "If you don't know what is normal, typical or ordinary, then how do you know what is out of the ordinary?"
Muslims we talked with say feeling uncomfortable is not reason enough to be kicked off a flight. They say the government needs to better define what suspicious behavior really is. Investigations by the airline and police show the airline and ground crews acted appropriately, but so far, no ruling on the discrimination lawsuit.
Or for another experiment in Islamic aviation mores, if you survive the first, get on your tefillin and start praying loudly in Hebrew for the protection of Israel.
Gee. I wonder why? /s
translation: ABC is trying to give gravitas to a case that is DOA.
The fact is intimidation thug groups like CAIR are trying to create a climate of fear of speaking against them.
These are bullies and bullies must be fought, HARD.
Actually, I don’t see how a Muslim can fly. It isn’t in the Koran is it?
and ABC is 100% complicit in helping them with their stunt.
Yellow journalism at its finest
Explodo is a buddy of mine and I can attest - his wife is a hotty.
If Islamic fascists succeed in another 9-11 size attack in the US, the “flying Imams” will have a lot more problems than just being profiled. Being rounded up and sent to camps might just be a good start.
“Being rounded up and sent to camps might just be a good start.”
Skip the camping experience for that crowd.....
Uh...no. Allah is the proper name of the Muslim god who was an Arab moon god before Muhammad got going. Saying that is like saying that YHWH is the Hebrew word for God.
On our trips this past week to JFK from Oakland, my 86-year-old mom, in a wheelchair, was patted down on both trips. OK, I can see that an older lady may be vulnerable to someone sticking a device somewhere in the back of the wheelchair ... but in this case, she was being attended to by a JetBlue employee.
It was a very thorough search.
Ah, but the flying public knows that the 21st Century version of the Keystone Kops known as the TSA does not profile, so they have to be the ones to do the watching of the muzzies. Tough Shiite, Ali Baba, but if you don't like it, then get on your magic prayer rug and take a flying leap...
My wife thought after 9/11 I would always get more scruitny at the airport since I could pass for an arab. The only flights I have had problems, extra security checks, is with my military travel since most of it was TDY and one way.
“I do believe it is racial profiling.”
Damned straight, Sparky. Why do we need to strip search old women in wheel chairs? Go directly to the source.
Here’s what we need.
For every destination, there will be 2 flights.
Flight 1 will be profiled. Anyone from the group that flies planes into buildings and slices heads will be given a very thorough interrogation.
Flight 2 will not be profiled. If more than 2 members of the group that flies planes into buildings and slices heads are questioned, the airline will be fined severely.
I’ll get on flight 1 along with all the other sensible people. Bleeding-heart liberals and members of the group that flies planes into buildings and slices heads will fly on flight 2.
Problem solved.
Is that anything like double secret probation?
LOL! Thank you guys for having a sense of humor!
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