6 Muslim Imams Removed From Plane

Group Was Saying Evening Prayers Prior To Boarding Plane In Minneapolis

(AP)  Six Muslim clerics who were refused tickets by US Airways booked flights back home Tuesday on another airline, but it still wasn't clear what led to their removal from their original flight.

The imams had attended a conference in Minneapolis of the North American Imams Federation, said Omar Shahin of Phoenix, president of the group, who was one of those removed from the flight. Three of them said their normal evening prayers in the airport terminal before boarding the Phoenix-bound plane, he said.

"They took us off the plane, humiliated us in a very disrespectful way," Shahin said after the incident on Monday night.

The next morning Shahin called for Muslims and non-Muslims to boycott US Airways unless the company changes its ways. "They know what they have to do, they have to be fair and just with everybody," he said.

A passenger raised concerns about the imams through a note passed to a flight attendant, according to airline spokeswoman Andrea Rader. Police were called after the captain and airport security workers asked the men to leave the plane and the men refused, Rader said. She said the rest of the flight's 141 passengers and five crewmembers were re-screened for boarding and the plane took off about three hours after the men were removed.

Airport spokesman Patrick Hogan said some witnesses said some of the imams made anti-American comments about the war in Iraq before boarding the flight, and that some of the men asked for seat belt extensions even though a flight attendant thought they didn't need them.

"There were a number of things that gave the flight crew pause," Hogan said. It wasn't immediately possible to verify whether the passengers who reported suspicious activity witnessed it themselves.

Shahin said Tuesday that three members of the group prayed in the terminal before the six boarded the plane. They entered individually, except for one member who is blind and needed a guide, Shahin said. Once on the plane, the six did not sit together, he said.

"We did nothing" on the plane, Shahin said.

Shahin said no one from the airline asked the six to leave, but when police arrived, the group complied.

Of the six Muslim scholars, five of them were from the Phoenix-Tempe area, while one was from Bakersfield, Calif., Shahin said.

When the imams went to the airport Tuesday morning to try to use their tickets or buy new ones, US Airways refused, and said their payment for Monday's flight had been refunded. Airline spokesman Morgan Durrant said afterward that he was not aware of the ticketing decision and could not comment.

They eventually booked a flight to Phoenix on Northwest Airlines for later Wednesday.

US Airways Group Inc. issued a statement saying it was interviewing crew members and ground workers to find out more about what happened.

"We are always concerned when passengers are inconvenienced and especially concerned when a situation occurs that causes customers to feel their dignity was compromised. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind," the airline said.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations planned to file a complaint, said CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper.

"Because, unfortunately, this is a growing problem of singling out Muslims or people perceived to be Muslims at airports, and it's one that we've been addressing for some time," Hooper said.

Hooper said the meeting drew about 150 imams from all over the country, and that those attending included U.S. Rep.-elect Keith Ellison, D-Minneapolis, who just became the first Muslim elected to Congress. Shahin said they went as far as notifying police and the FBI about their meeting in advance.

Shahin expressed frustration that — despite extensive efforts by him and other Muslim leaders since even before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — so many Americans know so little about Islam.

"If up to now they don't know about prayers, this is a real problem," he said.

[olebd]

Take it easy fellas. You were detained and questioned....BIG DEAL. You were not kidnapped, you were not beheaded, you were not burned or physically harmed like some Americans were not too long ago in Iraq.

We cannot make exceptions or be too careful these days.

Have your meeting in a Muslim country next time.

[mjv2944]

Well lets see, how many Irishmen, or Germans, Italians or Mexicans flew planes into the towers on 9/11, sorry but they were all Muslims. If you cannot handle yourself correctly on a plane, then you need to be taken off the plane. This is the same group of people who irot and kill because someone printed a cartoon. Until you get your radicals under control, I am afraid you all will be held accountable for their actions. If you don't like it, then go back from where you came.

I was onced asked to put away some reading material that I had on my lap many years ago, so I know...my reading materail? USAF Armament Systems Specialist on how to put bombs on aircraft, F15E Strike Eagle aircraft that is, I agreed this was not a good place to read it. There is a time and place for everything, praying on a plane as a group of muslims is not one of them. Especially in these times. Get over it guys, no one was profiling you. Learn how to act in public in the future

[richhong]

Praying on a plane is "suspicious"? Geez, how ignorant can these people be?

If we start acting out of ignorance and prejudice, Bin Laden wins.

[lady_di_d]

It's sad how many people are so intolerant of people "different" from themselves. I, for one, am glad that I live in a country that protects my right to be different -- even if a significant portion of the people enjoying that freedom don't get that it's for everyone.

[stefanjones]

While growing up in a very religious family, I was taught that I could pray in public. But, I was instructed to pray to "myself", the same as I would if I were reading to myself. The intention of prayer is to communicate your feelings with your God, It was not a time for public expression of my religious beliefs. I think that the muslim community might consider this in the future, since there are times when people may feel that you are forcing their religion on others with such outwad expression. ther is a time and place for such expression when other have the right to walk away, close their doors, etc. It is not that we disrepect Islam, it it that we need more education regarding it, but Muslim's must also understand that in this time, If they want to get their point across, they may want to change their approach.

Regarding US Airways... If you found no fault with the men after being interviewed. You should have placed them on a first class flight to whatever destination they desired! It is the least you could do after having the embarrasment the suffered.

[gramto7]

In case you missed it, these people STOOD to pray. When six people of obvious Muslim religion all stand at the same time, I'd probably get a bit nervous too. It only took four on each plane (and three on one of them) to take down the WTC, hit the Pentagon, and put another in a Pennsylvania field. When the Imams did not deplane when told to do so, they should have been handcuffed and removed. Anyone else who doesn't follow that command is done that way. Why shouldn't they be?

[badbrown126]

You want to be really freaked out ... ask these guys what they believe in.

Sharia law. This term should terrify every woman in this country. A woman cannot travel without another male. Cannot drive. Must remain veiled.I could go on for an hour. Ask them whether they feel Sharia law should be instituted in the US.

These are very scary people who believe if they die killing infidels .. that means anyone other than "certain" Muslins ... they go straight to heaven .. and that certain can change to any number of sects.

I don't want to fly with these people. Drive!

[dargay]

Victims of American ignorance. What else can be expected from a nation which relies of "stereotypes" in dealing with nonwhites.

regarding mr olebd...this is not iraq and there can be no comparison. These men were discriminated and humiliated for no good reason. That cannot just be dismissed by a wave of the hand.

[memerider]

It's time to get over political correctness. If people choose to come to the U.S., let them learn about our culture and what is proper public behavior. We have been attacked by Muslim extremists, and Muslims are just going to have to accept that they will be closely scrutinized. The outcry is preposterous.

[ybadiani]

it is sad incident.

muslims are in usa and should aceept americans culture and norms and cooperate them in maintaining law and order rather doing something which panics them and makes them suspicious.

it is too much to expect from terrorised usa that they should know about muslim prayers and timings of prayer.When siyas and sunnis are not respecting each others it is too much to expect that americans should know about muslim prayers.

we have come to america and we should try to be in rytham with their norms.

[olebd]

dargay. Discriminated and humiliated???? That works both ways now doesn't it? But we don't hear the other side because it doesn't fit in the PC media.

The way they were treated was far better than what Americans have endured abroad. Far better than how we would be treated if, God forbid, we didn't follow THEIR customs in THEIR country.

Furthermore, why do I often hear these so called prayers contain the phrase "Death to America???" Is that not discrimination?

Maybe you and your ilk need to go live somewhere elsewhere if this kind of treatment may inconvenience a portion of your day. Then we can enjoy some real peace.

[alicon1]

If I saw these guys all stand up at the same time, I would stand too...and walk off the plane. I imagine those on the flights on 9/11 would have liked to have been able to do so as well. In my opinion their behavior was not appropriate on an airplane.

[badbrown126]

What if a bunch of Christians stood up and prayed in a Muslim country? What is the punishment .. death ... stoning .. They accuse modern christians of being intolerant?! A Muslim in full traditional dress can pray outside in front of the Vatican. Can a Jew in full traditional dress pray outside at Mecca? What is the Muslim definition of tolerance?

[mygramma]

The level of stupidity expressed here by posts from ncolsens, mjv2944 and olebd is only surpassed by that of the passenger who passed the note BEFORE any public action by the Imams, the US Airways employees, the reporter who reported only some of the facts and the Imams who should have -and could have, without offending Islam- restrained themselves from public prayers.

Usually, in a news story about stuff like this, at least one party behaves reasonalby, with common sense. Not in this one. What if six Catholic nums from India in their black habits (the hijab) were on that plane quietly singing Gregorian chants. Would the passenger have passed the note? Almost certainly because the idiot would have taken them for Islamist radicals. Would a similar scenario have unfolded? Most probably, except the nuns would have had the sense to keep quiet.

How dumb we have become. How farging stupid.

[chutley1]

I'm getting really tired of hearing about the ignorance of non-Muslims whenever a Muslim person is questioned or detained. The entire non-Muslim world is supposed to walk on egg shells for fear of angering them. Political correctness is such garbage--we all have to live in this world together whether we like it or not. Everyone needs to employ a little understanding of the other---that includes Muslims understanding why non-Muslims get a little jumpy when a group of Muslim men decide to perform their evening prayers on an airplane that's about to take off. It goes both ways, you know?

[grumpas]

I don't really understand what the problem is here? Christian's pull stunts like this all the time and no one says a word! If I were on the plane I would have sat their quietly until they were through and ignored them! I still remember a cousin of my husbands and his wife saying grace in a restaurant (they are devout Catholic's) before eating their dinner. My husband and I both sat there quietly looking at each other while they did there thing! The manager of the department I used to work in did the same thing before lunch one day! It was no big deal! Everyone else went ahead and continued on with their lives! So, I this is not an oddity in this country! It's just that Christian's get uptight when it isn't one of their prayers being said. They don't seem to think other religion's have any rights just theirs! Personally, I think it was extremely rude and uncalled for to treat the muslems in that fashion!

[observantx]

The six scholars need to direct their anger at the source of their situation: Osama Bin Laden and all the other radical Islamic terrorists who have shot, bombed, tortured, stabbed, burnt and beheaded those who they feel obligated to kill merely because they do not want to practice their twisted and heretical version of Islam. These are the people that have made Muslims the objects of suspicion and aversion world wide. Because of their fanatic zeal, the good are made to suffer.

Standing up all at the same time in a plane, looking decidedly foreign and speaking in a foreign language is not a cool move post 9/11. You were humiliated? Oh you poor things. You want this problem to go away? Start by cleaning your own house. Denounce the rabid beast in your midst and refuse them money, shelter, food, safety and legitimacy. Until then, if you are in a plane, on a bus, or a subway, sit down and shut up. I%u2019m fairly certain wise and merciful Allah can wait for his prayers. He has lots of time.

[nadeau4201]

Too bad if we have to inconvience a few to protect our American citizens. And as far as the Christian pigs comment a bit harsh don't you think? It's not the Christians who are out to kill us.

[alicon1]

It is not the fact that they were praying that is the problem..it is where they were praying. Americans are justifiably jumpy on airplanes! How about a little sensativity to those very nervous flyers!

[jdeltoro1]

in response to george2221's comments, this particular incident reminds me of a period when black people were asked to stand on the bus if a white person wanted to sit in their seat. Why did these imams refuse? Because they were tired of being descriminated against. It's too bad we (and I include myself) choose to see only what we want to see instead of the larger world view- not the political one (where a few individuals taint the image of the many), but the view of people all over the world wanting peace, working toward it only by getting to know their "enemy."

[rascal212]

I wish others on the plane had stood up and started praying Our Fathers, Hail Marys and those of the Hebrew Faith and other religions as well. I remember my parents teaching me - "there is a time and a place for everything". Nowadays, actions such as these are "statements" that carry the wrong message.
We Americans are extremely tolerant. Its time people stopped mopping the floor with us.
There is a behavior that is expected of all of us when we board a plane - Shame on these so-called scholars for not having the smarts to realize this.
With Muslims, there is no tolerance for non-Muslims. It reminds me of an expression..."its all about ME"...

[elgraz]

I would have done the same thing as Captain of the plane. You can't trust anyone these days and if you have a doubt, thrown them out. Because of the actions of Islam extremists, all the others have to suffer and put up with the inconveniences. They have to clean their act up first before Americans can ever trust them..........Don't ever forget what was done to us on 9/11.

[olebd]

After 9/11, we can't afford to remain quiet if something doesn't look or seem quite right.

I'd rather be too cautious than end up dead.

This would not be an issue at all had it not been for what those planes were used for on 9/11.

All Muslims need to blame their radical members and no one else.

If these people are allowed to do as they please in the name of their religion could we, maybe, witness a few snake handlers on board in the near future?

[elgraz]

If Muslims want to pray let them pray in their mosques. This country was founded on Christian principles and must remain so. All other religions should be tolerated but not given special privileges.

[alicon1]

Why do I feel that I NEVER hear anything from MODERATE Muslims about these kinds of insidents? Do they exist?

[jn122736]

dargay:

%u201C..this is not iraq and there can be no comparison. These men were discriminated and humiliated for no good reason. That cannot just be dismissed by a wave of the hand.%u201D

New York on 911, wasn%u2019t Iraq either.

The only reason the hijackers on 911 were successful was that nobody even suspected they would kill themselves along with the passengers just for a cause.
As a matter of fact the passengers on the plane that crashed in PA rebelled after learning from their cell phones abut the planes that had crashed into the towers.
Now, no one could get away with that because we have learned, albeit the hard way, from that experience.

Further, since these men were said to be scholars they didn%u2019t do this in ignorance, it was almost certainly done just for the news coverage. Why else would they refuse to leave the plane when told to do so?

[spiritenerg1]

With the current state of events common sense must be used by all people in a public form. As an American I can say as a country we still ache for the 9-11 victims and have a responsibility to insure this never happens again. Sorry if this does not incorporate into your grand scheme of things. As a non-christian I understand religious discrimination; however I am smart enough not to meditate out loud on a plane full of potential christians, it called common courtiousy.

[elgraz]

AMERICA....LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT !!!!!!!!!!

[cfuture]

Tolerance for all is what we should all learn. However, in this age, society, with so much terrorism threat and ideas. Could tolerance have not played out by the muslims prior to their prayer. With so many people ignorant, such as myself to the muslim teachings, would it have been to much to ask for an announcement by the stewardess that the muslims were going to take part in the prayer, and any that wanted to join were welcome to. This would have notified the other passenger as to what was to take place, and possibly have put their minds at ease. Instead, the muslim community is outraged by the descrimination, and to me that is them not showing tolerance for everyone else.

Simple measures could have been taken, with a little bit of pre-thought. Instead a huge embarrassment by many has taken place. As a christian, if I felt the need to take prayer at a certain time of day, I would invite my neighbor, fellow passenger to join me if they choose. That is the democratic choice, and if need be, I would have taken my prayer circle to an area of the plane as so designated by the planes captain, so as not to offend those that choose to believe differently.

[alicon1]

elgraz...extremists of any kind, Muslim, Christain or American, are dangerous to us all.

[patjflynn]

It is unfortunate that these types of incidents happen, but happen they should. If white anglo saxons had flown planes into buildings in the Arab world, killing thousands of people, unprovoked, would a group of white anglo saxons be allowed to fly around in groups on Arab airlines. I think not; I think they'd be killed!

[sstuff3]

This country was founded on the principles of freedom to worship (I do not believe the Bill of Rights designates any specific religion). The government and the media have brain-washed the American people to the point that we are turning our backs on the basic freedoms and principles we were founded on. WAKE UP AMERICA!! Start being reasonable, people are still free to worship without interference and this is a freedom that should not be compromised, regardless of the religion.... When are we going to return to normalcy??? Live amd Let Live!!

[kevboom]

I'm about as liberal as they come, but I would have notified the flight attendants too. I'm sorry, but a group of Muslim men in traditional garb need to pick the right place to pray. An airplane is not that place. I'm sure if they had found a corner of the airport to bow and chant, it might have drawn attention, but not likely the police and handcuffs. I live in the south and regularly see baptists praying at Wendy's among other places. My Mom always said with people like that it's more about them than it is about God. A wise woman. Some people feel the need to make a scene and profess their faith, while most of us just want the freedom and quiet privacy to have our own personal relationship with God. I say be wary of overtly public believers the world-round. It's the respectful, quiet one listening in the corner that might actually receive some insight from above.

[angryliberal-2009]

Good! Finally we are getting serious about this problem!

[TeLand]

They were asked to de-plane and refused. All they had to do was co-operate with authorities and their delay would probably have been only slight and they probably would have been rebooked for another flight without much delay. Resisting authorities, just like on the highway with the state patrol, will only get you deeper. True that the American public lacks understanding of Islam, however, these folks should have been smart enough to know that Muslins have to walk softly right now and not act like the north end of a horse headed south. Imans are supposed to be men of tolerance, patience, and understanding. These guys sure blew it when they had a chance to show their real virtues... or did they?

[bnorsted]

Tolerence...how about planning your flight so that you don't have to pray while aboard and interrupt others. What would have happened if the plane would have been taxing and the fasten seat belt light was on. Would it be alright to stand up and participate it your pray. How about respecting the fact that they are on a commercial flight with 100's of other paying customers and U.S. citizens. You should be able to pray to whomever and whenever, but it should inconcience other or make them uncomfortable. Does the CAIR believe it is alright to interrupt others because of there beliefs and pray requirements.

Note: One thing that was not report was that some of the detained Muslim imams hs multiple Identification forms with different name. Last time I check it was illegal to carry Multiple Identification forms with different names. Isn't that suspicion enoght to question someone at an airport?

[bnorsted]

Tolerance...how about planning your flight so that you don't have to pray while aboard and interrupt others. What would have happened if the plane would have been taxing and the fasten seat belt light was on. Would it be alright to stand up and participate it your pray. How about respecting the fact that they are on a commercial flight with 100's of other paying customers and U.S. citizens? You should be able to pray to whomever and whenever, but it should not inconvenience other or make them uncomfortable. Does the CAIR believe it is alright to interrupt others because of there beliefs and pray requirements.

Note: One thing that was not report was that some of the detained Muslim imams had multiple Identification forms with different name. Last time I check it was illegal to carry Multiple Identification forms with different names. Isn't that suspicion enough to question someone at an airport?

[angryliberal-2009]

Im sorry but these muslims should know better than to do this. People just dont that, If they had half a brain they could have waited till later to do their chants. I bet the terrorists did the same thing before they blew up the towers...... Then these morons have the audacity to refuse to leave the plane.

"They took us off the plane, humiliated us in a very disrespectful way," said Omar Shahin, of Phoenix.

Im sorry we have no reason to respect you or your religion at this point..... I would expect to gain respect by causing problems on airplanes and delaying all the other passengers!?!? Why do you think you are so much better than everyone else? If I stood up on a plane mid flight and started chanting in a foriegn language, I would expect to be arrested! It's what we call COMMON SENSE!I would have more respect for you if you were practical and didnt disrespect all the people on the airplane by doing things that you knew would cause a problem.

[angryliberal-2009]

Hey guys take it easy, Muslims are the ones that made it possible to discover America!

[angryliberal-2009]

Without the tyranical, violent religion of Islam Columbus would have been permitted to travel to the indies by land, but he had to search for an alternate route for fear that the Muslims would kill him so he got lost and landed in America....that is 100% true, Im not making it up

[tcjcags]

I have to agree with comment from bnorsted.

[mjv2944]

mygramma

Get a clue, this is not normal behavior on an air plane. Hope you don't ever get on a hijacked plane, but if you do, you will change your attitude very quickly. I think that airline personnel reacted correctly, how would they know if they were radicals or not, and besides that why have 2 or 3 sets of identity papers.

[mickeyjay31-2009]

Hey, all you white, blonde haired, blue-eyed caucasians, the nest time you board an airplane in the Middle East, I hope you're asked to leave the plane for no other reason than you are there. After all, how would the airlines know you are just a passanger. You could be a KKK member or a White Nazi Group. Remember, when they come for one, they will come for all.

[iamclaire]

I have only gotten through the first page of comments but thus far i feel that they have been- while i guess it is free speech- increadibly offensive and quite frankly terrifying. All these comments basically exemplify the article itself by presenting ignorance and hate for the Muslim community. There are certain, specific times each day that Muslims pray. If they are indeed extremely religious men, they would not wait till they were off the plane to pray. how DARE one of you say that "the only good muslim is a dead mulsim". Shame on you. there is a huge difference between EXTREMISTS and NORMAL RELIGIOUS PEOPLE! The Muslim religion does NOT condone the actions of 9/11 and anyone who has ever spoken to a Mulsim would know that.

I understand the fear of a passenger who does not understand. But I also empathise with those men who were taken out of the plane. Imagine the humiliation and frustration they must have felt when that happened. Imagine the looks they recieved from each and every passenger on that plane as they were being taken out. And why? because of their RACE and their RELIGION.

Being in this war (whether we agree with it or not), we as Americans have a RESPONSIBILITY to learn about this other culture enough to understand what exactly is happening here. It truly upsets me to see how little we seem to know about the very culture we are immediately involved with.

[mollysherida]

And if priests and ministers had stood up to read their Bibles ... what would have happened then?? Get a grip?? And we wonder why they hate us!!

[fripper1]

The words of Shahin say it all. That we are ignorant of the ways of Islam. It is Islam that is ignorant of the ways of America after 9/11. There is a global war on terror happening that can be blamed of the radical side of Islam. DO MUSLIMS NOT GET IT!!!!!!!. Stop trying to force you beliefs down our throats. If it was up to me you would be on the NO-FLY list and have to travel by donkey or ox cart.

[iamclaire]

These comments thus far have been incredibly offensive and quite frankly terrifying. All these comments basically exemplify the article itself by presenting ignorance and hate for the Muslim community. There are certain, specific times each day that Muslims pray. If they are indeed extremely religious men, they would not wait till they were off the plane to pray. How DARE one of you say that "the only good Muslim is a dead Muslim". Shame on you. There is a huge difference between EXTREMISTS and NORMAL RELIGIOUS PEOPLE! The Muslim religion does NOT condone the actions of 9/11 and anyone who has ever spoken to a Muslim would know that.

I understand the fear of a passenger who does not understand. But I also empathize with those men who were taken out of the plane. Imagine the humiliation and frustration they must have felt when that happened. Imagine the looks they received from each and every passenger on that plane as they were being taken out. And why? Because of their RACE and their RELIGION.

Being in this war (whether we agree with it or not), we as Americans have a RESPONSIBILITY to learn about this other culture enough to understand what exactly is happening here. It truly upsets me to see how little we seem to know about the very culture we are immediately involved with.

[dolphinak1]

FACT: Almost all terrorist acts are done by Muslims. Who ever heard of a Buddhist terrorist?

it has nothing to do with not understanding a religion. its about taking proper precaution on board a terrorist target.

the imams themselves should understand, although i admit they went through a terrible experience. Of course, it is their ignorance though to blame the rightly concerned authorities than the radicals who have brought this situation upon everyone.

Last word: always err on the side of caution no matter who it offends.