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Our relatives are traders not terrorists (Reaction to Dutch Arrests)
Rediff.com ^ | August 24, 2006 | Syed Firdaus Ashraf

Posted on 08/24/2006 3:23:49 PM PDT by samsonite

"Is keeping beard a sin in this world?" screams Abdul Kadar Kolsawala, 70, on the top of his voice in his two-room apartment at Memon Colony in Jogeshwari, a north-western suburb of Mumbai.

"The terrorists get away all the time but it is only innocent Muslims who are caught," says Kadar.

"It has become difficult to move around with a beard. The police doubt your credentials all the time. My son is innocent and he has nothing to do with terrorism," he adds.

Kolsawala's son Ayub was detained by the Dutch police along with eight friends and two cooks at Schipol airport, Amsterdam, on Wednesday.

He was one of the passengers travelling by a Northwest Airlines flight to Mumbai on Wednesday, which flew back to Amsterdam after the pilot asked for help. The plane was escorted back by F-16 fighters.

"My son had gone with friends in connection with his garment business in Port of Spain in the West Indies," said Kolsawala.

According to him, Ayub must have been seated with his group, which probably raised the suspicions of the cabin crew. "Eleven Muslim passengers sitting together must have made the airline crew uneasy," says Kolsawala.

Ayub Kolsawala and with his group had gone to attend a trade fair and had been in Trinidad for the last 35 days. They go to different trade fairs abroad where they sell garments from India. They have been doing so for the last 10 years and have visited many countries.

"We knew they were on the plane which was grounded but were shocked to see their names in the detained list on television," said Shabana Batliwala, wife of Iqbal Batliwala, a friend of Ayub.

"My husband goes abroad regularly for business trips and he is a trader. He has nothing to do with terrorism. I am shocked that he has been detained," she adds.

Out of the 12 passengers, six are from Memon Colony in Jogeshwari, three from the nearby Behram Baug and three are from South Mumbai.

The entire neighbourhood in this colony of Muslims in Jogeshwari, is shocked to learn that their neighbours have been detained.

The Memons hail from Gujarat and are Sunni Muslims. They are mostly involved in trading or business.

The family members are also upset that no one from the Indian consulate in teh Netherlands or the Mumbai police had bothered to inform them about their relatives' detention.

Farzeen Chotani started crying when she came to know that her husband Shakeel Usman Chotani had been detained. "My husband travels frequently. He has nothing to do with terrorism. I just hope he is released soon," said Farzeen. Shakeel last called Farzeen on Monday when he told her about his travel plans to Mumbai.

"I thought he would arrive by Wednesday night. When I came to know that plane was grounded, I thought he would be a delayed by a day or two. Now, I am in shock to know that he is being labelled a terrorist," adds Farzeen.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: airlinesafety; flight42; flight43; netherlands; nwa; wot
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1 posted on 08/24/2006 3:23:50 PM PDT by samsonite
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To: samsonite
It's only innocent muslims that are caught.
The family's of the deceased might argue with that statement.
2 posted on 08/24/2006 3:27:02 PM PDT by kinoxi
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To: samsonite

But hey d-wad. It has been 100% Muzzies who have hijacked planes and crashed them into buildings full of innocent people. They have been detained not charged. Get over it trader Vic.


3 posted on 08/24/2006 3:27:30 PM PDT by shankbear
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To: samsonite
Get used to it, Haji. If we're all infidels to be slaughtered to 10-20% of your relatives, friends and neighbors, then you shouldn't mind being detained for a bit while your identity gets sorted out. So why don't you just sit back down and shut up.
4 posted on 08/24/2006 3:28:39 PM PDT by WorkingClassFilth (Yeah, I've got an axe to grind...what else would you use on Leftists?)
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To: samsonite

"Is keeping beard a sin in this world?"

In his world, shaving it off would be a sin.


5 posted on 08/24/2006 3:30:40 PM PDT by Spok (He who bites the hand that feeds him will also lick the boot that kicks him.)
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To: samsonite
"Eleven Muslim passengers sitting together must have made the airline crew uneasy," says Kolsawala.

Gee, how unreasonable.

"It has become difficult to move around with a beard.

They're not profiling ZZ Topp. It's the Islam, stupid.

6 posted on 08/24/2006 3:31:57 PM PDT by Argus
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To: samsonite

Look like an asshole.
Travel with assholes.
Bunch up with assholes.
Behave like assholes.
Ignore air crew directions like assholes.
Get treated like an asshole..

Get used to it --- asshole.

Semper Fi


7 posted on 08/24/2006 3:37:22 PM PDT by river rat (You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: samsonite

8 posted on 08/24/2006 3:38:08 PM PDT by sanchmo (If we wish to learn what was going on in Europe in 1938, just look around - V.D. Hanson)
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To: samsonite
"The terrorists get away all the time but it is only innocent Muslims who are caught," says Kadar.

Then why don't you kindly F'ing help us catch them!?!

9 posted on 08/24/2006 3:42:38 PM PDT by sanchmo (If we wish to learn what was going on in Europe in 1938, just look around - V.D. Hanson)
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To: kinoxi

"Eleven Muslim passengers sitting together must have made the airline crew uneasy," says Kolsawala.
No, Kolsawala, Muslims on any airplane makes everyone uneasy.


10 posted on 08/24/2006 3:48:29 PM PDT by fogofbobegabay
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To: fogofbobegabay
Where is mohammed's flying horse when they need it?
11 posted on 08/24/2006 3:52:11 PM PDT by kinoxi
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To: kinoxi

Engine overhaul in Dubai?


12 posted on 08/24/2006 3:57:18 PM PDT by fogofbobegabay
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To: sanchmo
Then why don't you kindly F'ing help us catch them!?!

Exactly, help us know what is going on in your Mosque. Help the Dutch authorities know who is a danger in your community. Then we will all be safe and fewer Muslem's who are not a danger will be bothered.
13 posted on 08/24/2006 3:59:37 PM PDT by JLS
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To: samsonite
...but it is only innocent Muslims who are caught...

there's no such animal.

14 posted on 08/24/2006 4:05:53 PM PDT by B.O. Plenty (Islam, liberalism and abortions are terminal..)
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To: fogofbobegabay

Zionists once again...


15 posted on 08/24/2006 4:09:27 PM PDT by kinoxi
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To: samsonite

16 posted on 08/24/2006 4:10:59 PM PDT by Gritty (If this is a ‘long war’ it needs rhetoric that can go the distance. Today it fails that test-Mk Stey)
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To: river rat

You, sir, are an eloquent man!


17 posted on 08/24/2006 4:13:12 PM PDT by ClearBlueSky (Whenever someone says it's not about Islam-it's about Islam. Jesus loves you, Allah wants you dead!)
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To: samsonite

Maybe some enterprising young Muslim could start "Air Allah" where only Muslims are allowed to fly. They could have halal meals, prayer sections, and the men could ride topside while the women are sealed off in the cargo hold.


18 posted on 08/24/2006 4:48:36 PM PDT by operation clinton cleanup (Assistant to the traveling secretary.)
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To: ClearBlueSky

Thanks,

I had a good English teacher.....in High School.
He HATED long papers.

The "concise" language I learned in the Marine Corps.

Semper Fi


19 posted on 08/24/2006 5:02:00 PM PDT by river rat (You may turn the other cheek, but I prefer to look into my enemy's vacant dead eyes.)
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To: samsonite

***"It has become difficult to move around with a beard***

Then shave it azzwipe and make some flea's homeless.


20 posted on 08/24/2006 5:28:57 PM PDT by sgtbono2002 (The fourth estate is a fifth column.)
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