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1/2/09

Flying while Muslim, Be Careful, you might just be a Terrorist....


Nine Muslim passengers were kicked off a flight from Washington, D.C., to Florida after other passengers reported hearing a suspicious remark about airplane security. AirTran Airways spokesman Tad Hutcheson called the incident on the New Year's Day flight from Reagan National Airport to Orlando, Fla., a misunderstanding, but defended the company's response. He said the airline followed federal rules and did nothing wrong.

One of the Muslim passengers, Kashif Irfan, told The Washington Post the confusion began when his brother was talking about the safest place to sit on an airplane.

"My brother and his wife were discussing some aspect of airport security," Irfan said. "The only thing my brother said was, 'Wow, the jets are right next to my window.'"
Click HERE
to read the entire story.

This is a pure case of Racial Profiling! There is no doubt in my mind that these passengers were treated the way they were just because they had the appearance of muslims : the men have beards, the women wear hijab! These days, this might just make you a terrorist! What irks me is that Airtran did not even apologize, they on the hand beleive that the way these passengers were treated was justified. On the top of that, the passengers were not allowed to get back on the plane but were told that they could fly AIRTRAN any other day since they've been cleared by the FBI. Bull Crap! I don't know about you, but I'm done with flying Airtran! I'm not going to support any business that blatantly discrimates against certain groups of people and dares to justify such discrimation! Their excuse is so lame I don't know if I should cry or laugh about it , supposedly these people wanted to sit on the safest place in the airplane. Now, I don't know about Airtran people, but If I really wanted to blow up a plane, why in the world would I want to sit on the safest place in the airplane? And why would I bring my wife and kids?...Collateral damage? I guess next time I go to Reagan Airport, I ought to be more careful, with my hijab on I might just be on the FBI watch list.....my luck!

23 comments:

malizea said...

That's just crazy!!!

Empress Anisa said...

Hmm... as I said on another blog earlier, smells like a lawsuit to me....

sata said...

pffft..i was appalled by this story,i mean what is going on with people??? fear,preventive measures,paranoia,i just don't know what to think.that's terrible,may Allah have mercy.

Khadra said...

I read this article earlier today. How awful for that family :( I kinda hope they take the airline to court, but on the other hand Im not sure having yourself plastered on the news for months on end is going to feel so great for them either.

Inexplicable Muslima said...

Ahh.... and I'm flying back in tomorrow too.... ^__^ This will = FUN!!!!

nida said...

yep I just saw that on tv - bloody fools!>!>!Its not even funny anymore!! This is a clear example of how MUSLIMS are the target of the west and we need to wake up and see how it is! we cant afford more of the same :(!

Leslie in Adams Morgan said...

I'm a (non-practicing) Christian who has a huge respect for Islam and feel this incident is a clear case of profiling.

I would have said this is an example of mainstream America freaking out on it's own ignorance, but behaving like this at National Airport??? Washington, DC should know better.

I mean, who isn't thinking about plane safety after removing our shoes and having our bags inspected and after the Today Show recently instructed viewers on how best to exit a plane in an emergency but it's unbelievable and inexcusable that a group of people would be taken off a plane for talking about which seats are safter than others.

Diali said...

you guys should read the comments afterwards
Totally disgusting and so racist...

Amina said...

am i the only who is not surprised at how things were handled?? since 9-11, racial profiling has replaced a decent investigation.
even in movies/ tv series especially law and order.
i am sorry the family had to go through that!!

Anonymous said...

I just came back from upstate NY on a Southwest flight back to Baltimore with my kids. I've flown out of Dullas and BWI with no problem. MY husband usually flies out of Regan. This is rediculous....AirTran needs to be held accountable. Someone needs to issues an apology.

Mona Zenhom said...

I read this too and think it's such shame that fear has caused this kind of discrimination. So ridiculous.

Jamaican Hijabi said...

I agree it was not justified at all, they have however recently apologized
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090102/ap_on_re_us/muslim_passengers_removed

Elom said...

What I really want to know is where are the "other passengers" who reported the conversation? Did they apologize?

Intolerance really makes me sick.

I also think the family should sue. Not necessarily for money, but to set an example! A precedent to make people more vigilant of what they think they hear or see.

I really wonder how these "other passengers" feel like at this moment...

muslimahh said...

I HATE flying! I seem to always get searched and I'm scared something crazy like this will happen to me. One time I got through security with no problems, sat there and waited for my plane in the terminal with no problems and then when they called boarding they pulled ME and ONLY me aside for an additional security screening. It was just me and my 2 year old....like we had this evil plan to blow up a plane in Omaha. Come on now. It was so embarrassing. One man on the plane did tell me he was sorry that happened to me. Thank goodness for people like him!

Hijabee said...

Malizea,
Yes it is!

Empress Anisa,
To me too, especially that one of the men involved is a lawyer

Hijabee said...

Sata,
Totally agree, it makes you wonder what's the world coming into

Khadra,
That's true and the family said they just wanted an apology, I guess they don't want to make too much out of it but civil rights organizations are taking over...

Hijabee said...

Inexplicable Muslimah,
Good luck, hope you have an uneventful flight ...

Nida,
Sad but true, people are discriminated against just because of the way they look. I watched a video of a Sikh man with a turban who signed for a UPS delivery package and when he logged in on the UPS package, he saw that they put under signature: signed by a Terrorist!

Hijabee said...

Leslie in Adams Morgan,
I was in your neighborhood 2 days ago :) You're right this is a case of pure ignorance! It's frightening though coz once you read the comments under the article you realize that most people were supportive of how this family was treated and had offensive comments about Muslims....I guess the good thing is there are still people out there like you who give us hope that maybe we can all coexist in peace! Thanks for your comment.

Hijabee said...

Umm Amirah,
I fly out of Reagan all the time coz it's closer to me. The last time I went to Dulles though, there were a lot of hijabis working for TSA which was kinda surprising!

Mona,
I agree, what's more ridiculous is that people seem to condone such actions in the name of national security

Hijabee said...

Jamaican Hijabi,
I saw it today and what I thought was: just too little, too late....


Elom,
Of couse those passengers did not apologize! I guess what irks me the most is that Airtran refused to let them board the plane even after the FBI agents cleared them and pleaded with Airtran to let them board the plane, they still refused!

Hijabee said...

Muslimah,
I'm so sorry that that happened to you! Do these people have any ethics whatsoever? What I don't understand is why they would put you aside after you've passed security? That makes no sense whatsoever, plus you were with your daughter! This is ridiculous!

Yasmeen said...

Ignorant people,most don't even know the real reason behind wearing a hijab which a sign of modesty.

Hijabee said...

Habayeb,
I wih I had that luxury :(

Yasmeen,
So true. Thanks for commenting