Imams thrown off flight for doing what most Americans do — praying before the takeoff!
A US Islamic advocacy group has called for an
investigation after six imams were removed from a US Airways flight and
detained, due to what the group suspected was persistent “fear and
prejudice” against Muslims.
A US Islamic advocacy group has called for an
investigation after six imams were removed from a US Airways flight and
detained, due to what the group suspected was persistent “fear and
prejudice” against Muslims.
The imams were among the passengers on Flight 300 from Minneapolis to Phoenix, and had been attending a conference of the North American Imams Federation. They were removed after three of them prayed before boarding the plane, a leader of the group said.
A passenger initially raised concerns about the group through a note passed to a flight attendant, according to a spokeswoman for US Airways. She said police were called after the captain and airport security workers asked the men to leave the plane and the men refused.
“They took us off the plane, humiliated us in a very disrespectful way,” said Omar Shahin, one of the six clerics. “Six scholars in handcuffs. It’s terrible.”
Mr Shahin expressed frustration that - despite the efforts of Muslim leaders - many Americans still know so little about Islam. “If up to now they don’t know about prayers, this is a real problem,” he said.
Is the line between caution and paranoia really this fine? The concern raised by another passenger was that the Imams were “cursing” America in their conversation.
Stop listening in on other peoples converations, creep! Leave that to our government — like every other patriotic American.
The imams were among the passengers on Flight 300 from Minneapolis to Phoenix, and had been attending a conference of the North American Imams Federation. They were removed after three of them prayed before boarding the plane, a leader of the group said.
A passenger initially raised concerns about the group through a note passed to a flight attendant, according to a spokeswoman for US Airways. She said police were called after the captain and airport security workers asked the men to leave the plane and the men refused.
“They took us off the plane, humiliated us in a very disrespectful way,” said Omar Shahin, one of the six clerics. “Six scholars in handcuffs. It’s terrible.”
Mr Shahin expressed frustration that - despite the efforts of Muslim leaders - many Americans still know so little about Islam. “If up to now they don’t know about prayers, this is a real problem,” he said.
Is the line between caution and paranoia really this fine? The concern raised by another passenger was that the Imams were “cursing” America in their conversation.
Stop listening in on other peoples converations, creep! Leave that to our government — like every other patriotic American.
Posted: Wed - November 22, 2006 at 07:59 AM