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.
I’m outraged by this. Since when is an airport anything like a public school?!
At least it should promote “secular” air travel.
[sarcasm]
Praise the Lord!
[/sarcasm]
‘ Yeah, but ‘……….to which God from which version of the Bible were they praying and besides they were not praying in English.
¡ English was good enough for Jesus so it’s good enough for al-Usa !
Allen McDonald, El Galloviejo®
What is it with prayers that make them:
“Must Show The Rest Of The World That I’m Praying”?
Is the god deaf? They’re probably told to show and make loud sounds in the scriptures, eh?
Q:How convenient wouldn’t it have been if they could just say it silently in their mind without any telling?
A: VERY.
I know, muslims must face Mecca. But isn’t there any room for adjustments?
I do understand people’s fear, and I do understand (accept) people’s urge to pray. But in today’s situation, I think both parties must accommodate each other a little bit.
I’m looking for corrarberation that they would not sit in their assigned seats, but were sitting in seats all over the plane. Did they KNOW that they were Muslim, and that people would take note of their words and actions!?!??!?
My opinion? They were looking to create a controversy by being loud, boisterous, and atagonistic, thereby enciting fear in the less open minded persons on the plane.
#6 you are right, they didn’t have to pray in the middle of the terminal. From what I’ve heard on the news there are places in the airport for this soft of thing. Maybe it was an “in your face” thing on part of the Imams. Kind of like breast feeding moms who insist on doing it in full view of other when privacy is available.
I personally don’t blame the reaction of the pilots or the passengers. I would have done the same thing. In this day and age, the Imams should have known this would have happened, and they did it anyway.
(This’ll get me on the list for sure, but….)
I can’t imagine the TSA folks noticing this, what with all their searching of little old ladies and infants….
(/Sarcasm)
I would have been upset to see these guys, too. But there are security measures in place that should have guaranteed that they were as clear as possible. ‘Course that doesn’t cure “helpers” leaving weapons on the planes “behind the wall” or whatever, but that’s another story. (I believe in “arm the passengers”.)
Probably overdone in this case….
All of which brings to mind Massad Ayoob. He’s a very well known Law Enforcement Firearms Trainer and Author. Within LE, probably most widely known “Arabic” name other than bin Laden, although most others wouldn’t know him.
Now imagine this guy checking a suitcase full of handguns on a flight…. (Which he does regularly.)
Very seriously, in an environment where your choice of airliner is quite likely to be shot down by United States Air Force personell (assuming you don’t stray over the White House and get nailed by a SAM) what sort of additonal risk is there in letting qualified passengers fly armed? We’d rather get a few hundred people killed, not to mention the mess on the ground (“Flight 93” more or less flew over my house on the way to Shanksville PA)….
Regards,
Almost all airports have private rooms/meditation rooms. The only problem is that they are located on the public side of the airport which means you would have to leave the secure area and go through security again. Freedom of religion is great but I think everyone need put some thought into it before they decide to exercise that freedom in public. What would happen if someone in an airport in an islamic country started reading the bible aloud?
when I first heard this story I thought it was an outrageous example of cultural ignorance on the part of US citizens. But then this morning I heard that at least some of these gentelment had one way tickets and no luggage – so maybe THAT is why they were removed from the plane, not because they were praying. Seems that both sides need some cultural education.
Wow. I can’t decide which is more confusing. Are the people attempting to suggest that there had to be some legitimate reason for the incident unaware that everyone else can tell they’re merely rationalizing a convenient position, or are they unaware that they’re rationalizing, themselves?
Ohm sat tan ohm, satannas dominus terra.
So say we all.
#12
Wow2.
That was a conveniently rationalizing post starting up indecisive and ending up with a gabbling mantra. Well done ;D
10. What would happen if someone in an airport in an islamic country started reading the bible aloud?
Actually, thats an excellent point.
well, I hear Christians believe Jesus was son of God.
but isn’t there some room for adjustment?
if muslims should be able adjust their belief that they can only pray towards mecca, then surely Christians can change their beliefs if you politely ask them to?
#15
I don’t know Roger M, but you’re making me schizo…. eh, confused…
Eideard, is this the real note from the complaining customer? If so, how did you get a hold of it?
The NY TIMES has a photocopy of the note, Ilya.
So the next time I fly I can complain because someone resembling Pat Roberts or Jerry Falwell is praying before they get on the plane. I may also expect that they will be removed from the plane in handcuffs.
Ok, extremists, face the facts. The only complaint was that some of these men prayed before entering the plane. There was no indication that they had a plot. There was no indication that they might have any weapons or pseudo weapons. There was no indication that they were belligerent or loud. There are no reports from any passengers that they refused to leave the plane when asked; such reports to the contrary came from the TSA.
This was discrimination pure and simple. They were mid-eastern and had accents and funny names.
A passenger has the right to not fly if he/she is uncomfortable with the situation, but since when do the passengers have the right to dictate who flies or not?
In Britain recently, passengers mutinized when someone overheard two asian men talking in arabic. Thats it. Talking. They created a mutiny and the asian men were asked to leave. The airline sided with the majority …. for $$$ reasons, I’m sure.
Now flyers are being told to take off non-PC clothing. That “Have a Nice Day” t-shirt wirtten in aribic is too threatening.
The terrorists have won.
13: Beg pardon, what did I rationalize? Sorry about the latin; I was going to cite the refrain from Baudelaire’s Litany but it just didn’t convey the sentiment.
20: Ten paciencia conmigo, vato, but unless you were standing in front of the Home Depot at 8am or holding a tortilla, would anyone be able to tell you from a Hadjii? Or do you just have an un-American screen name?
Either way. Sooner that fence gets done, the sooner we can keep both of ya out.
While flying on a flight lasting a total of 14 hours, I began to grill a Muslim buddy sitting next to me about praying. If you must pray 5 times a day, how do you do it in a seat on a plane? How do you even know which way is Mecca? If Mecca is directly below us on the other side of the world why aren’t you facing down? If you are orbiting the Earth on the space station, which way do you face? Stuff like that.
The bottom line is that the rules are relaxed for Muslim travellers, allowing them to make these things up later, afaik.
RBG
Hey! We still have freedom of speech in this country and …………..oh, shit, thats right,.
My bad.
I don’t mind flying with muslims, it’s fat people I have a problem with. Have you ever sat next to a big fat pig in coach? Their body fat always manages to migrate to your side of the arm rest, which, by the way, they automatically claim as their own. Just listening to their labored breathing is enough to make me hurl, and because they are obese, they sweat more than normal humans- any environment is like a Turkish sauna to them; they could sweat in a snow storm. When they eat, it’s with incredible gusto and mechanical purpose, like a vacuum cleaner sucking up the dirt in the corner of a room; no crumbs are left behind. It’s disgusting. I’ll fly with muslims any day. But get the fat snorting, sweating food-hoovering slobs off my freaking jet.
25. Then, of course theres your fat Muslims. YIKES!!!
#25…….then of course there’s your fat/Muslim bigots…..yikes!!!!!!
[COMMENTARY ALSO SENT TO MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE 11/22/06]
Perhaps nothing has tested American’s respect for the religion of others than the events which occurred on September 11, 2001. The attack that took place that day was not only the most grievous ever suffered on U.S. soil at the hands of a foreign enemy. It was also the first significant attack on this country by persons who justified their assault on religious grounds. As we soon learned, the hijackers and those who supported the 9/11 attacks claimed to be acting in accordance with their Muslim beliefs. However, Muslims all over the world, including virtually all American Muslims, immediately and overwhelmingly rejected the notion that Islam could be interpreted to justify the attacks that took place on 9/11. Nevertheless, because of the anger and fear felt by many Americans in response to a great loss of American lives, their feelings toward Islam turned away from respect in favor of fear and distrust. Unfortunately, because of the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the loss of an even greater number of American lives in those conflicts, the feelings of fear and distrust towards Islam have not lessened, but in fact, may have increased over the last five years.
It is now time to reverse that course, and to bring about greater understanding between the American people and those who practice Islam, both at home and abroad. This is not just a matter of good politics; more importantly, it is a matter of defending the right to free exercise of religion. It is also a way to bring honor and integrity to our own faiths and beliefs. By generating fear and hatred toward Muslims or toward their religion, Americans only bring disrespect to our own faiths and to democracy itself. By giving proper respect to Islam, and to all other religions that are different from our own faith, we help to establish the mutual trust that is so desperately needed in the world today.
Think of how differently events could have transpired if only a small amount of understanding and respect was shown. The Imams could have been politely and respectfully asked to explain what their practices were, and what they were reciting. The Imams could have been told that a passenger was unfamiliar with the practices of the Imams, and was fearful and concerned, which is the reason for the questions that were put to them. After hearing the response of the Imams, the U.S. Airways crew could have reassured the passenger that there was nothing to worry about, and that the Imams were innocently praying and practicing their faith. By exercising just a little understanding, all of those involved in the incident at Minneapolis Airport could have been spared much suffering and instead, could have developed a healthier respect for others who are different from themselves.
[edited for length — see comments guide]
I like how he says,
“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.”
Does that mean that we need to educate ourselves on how other peoples religion and how they pray? I’m sure he hasnt brushed up on how christians pray and what they say. I’m sorry, based on the events of 9/11 some people might be scared and have a right to bring anything that makes them uncomfortable to the attention of authorities.
3 men prayed, but there were 6 imams, so obviously three were fake.
29. Its true, I know relatively little about Islam. But, I dont remember any Muslim leaders trying to educate me on their religious beliefs or habits, and even if they did, I may not be interested, just like when the Jehovahs Witness come to my front door continuously. Does that make me self-centered. If so, so be it, I dont want to know about Islam, or any other religion for that matter. Call me apathetic?
Ayoob told of a defendant being asked by a DA if the decedent might have been simply trying to frighten the defendant. The defendant responded, “He succeeded”.
The defendant was acquitted.
Were the Moslems trying to frighten the unbelievers? If so, tough bananas.
I find it interesting that such a “manly” bunch expects the world to react to their childish and bratty behavior in precisely the way a new mother reacts to a fretful and needy infant.
Such overwhelming respect I feel toward them for their maturity causes me to grovel before them.
Right after I catch my breath from laughing so hard.