CAIR urges probe after Muslim scholars removed from flight

Not surprising that CAIR (Council on American-Islamic relations) would immediately call for a probe into the removal of 6 Imams from a U.S. Airways flight this past Monday, alleging religious and ethnic profiling. Apparently several of the Imams were praying in the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport terminal prior to boarding a plane headed for Phoenix. I have written, in previous posts, about my belief in religious tolerance, but frankly, what do they expect post 9-11??

Nihad Awad, the executive director of CAIR stated, "We are concerned that crew members, passengers and security personnel may have succumbed to fear and prejudice based on stereotyping of Muslims and Islam."

10 years ago observing a group of Muslim men involved in 'evening prayers' might have raised a certain amount of curiosity and interest, but not fear. 9/11 unfortunately changed all that, and the progressively violent and murderous actions of an ever increasing radicalized Muslim faction increases that fear and yes, sadly, prejudice. The claims of Islam being hijacked by a few means nothing when the majority of the Muslim world population has remained largely mum on the actions of these supposed few. Virulent anti-western sentiment in middle-eastern countries doesn't help matters, either. Go to memritv.org and watch any of the many videos they have on their website. Some very chilling footage.

I admit that since 9/11, when traveling, I have become far more suspicious of anyone who looks in any way, shape or form Middle-Eastern, even women. Yes, it's religious and ethnic profiling and no, it's not ignorance, it's human nature! On September 11th, 2001, 19 Muslims of Arab descent hijacked and crashed 4 commercial passenger jet airliners, killing 2,973 people.

A collection of photographs of those killed (except for 92 victims) during the terrorists attacks on Sept 11, 2001.
Source: United States v. Zacarias Moussaoui (Criminal No. 01-455-A), Prosecution Trial Exhibits, Exhibit number P200336

You bet I'm going to wonder if that person praying to Allah before boarding the plane, or on the plane, is perhaps saying his last prayer. Irrational, perhaps, but it's going to cross my mind, regardless.

There are, of course, differing versions about what actually occurred. What we do know is that a passenger handed a note to a flight attendant voicing their concerns about what they felt was suspicious activity by the Imams, which then prompted the removal of the 6 Muslim men. Reports claim the Imams refused to leave the plane and that they were also heard chanting "Allah" and spouting anti U.S. sentiments, however the men deny these accusations. Who knows what the actual truth is, but I do know that Muslim/Americans are first and foremost Muslims and therein lies a major problem, which I will go into in another post.

Until the moderate and secular Muslims start criticizing and disowning the radical element of their own religion, people will continue to profile, and with good reason.