Muslim Clerics Kicked Off Flight

BY DAN CORNFIELD
ANCHOR ALEX ROZIER

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In route from Memphis to Charlotte for a conference on Islamaphobia, two Muslim clerics were pulled off a Delta flight before takeoff. The pilot refused to fly with them aboard.
Nashville’s WSMV talked to Masudur Rahman-- one of the men forced off the plane.
“The pilot said, ‘No, no, no, I am going. I’m not taking them.”
“If they’d of asked you to do another check, would you have done it?”
“Oh yeah sure, it is their job they are doing. It is our job to show we have nothing. We are Americans, we are living in America, and we want the security of American.”
Pilots may refuse service at any time, but normally must show cause. Charolotte’s WCNC received a statement form the company that employs the pilot and crew.
“We got a statement from Atlantic Southeast Airlines that tells us that they are investigating and quote, ‘Compensation and re-accommodation on the next available flight were immediately offered to the passenger and the passenger’s travel companion. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused.”
Some believe it’s ultimately about safety and security. Blogcritics.com’s John Lake says the airline needs to stand by the pilot.
“The real issue is that most would agree the pilot did the right thing, in protecting his passengers and his plane....We are in fact surprised the passengers expressed no concern. The pilot....was at an impasse; any one of us might have done the same.”
After the men finally arrived in Charlotte, they reached out to the Counsel for American Islamic Relations. CAIR’s Ibrahim Hooper told CNN the fear of all things Muslim is still very prevalent in the U.S.
“They weren’t told that any passenger made any accusation against them. All that was mentioned was that some passengers were uncomfortable with them. And I’m assuming that would stem from their what you could regard as Islamic attire...People are just uncomfortable with being on a plane with someone who looks like they’re Muslim.”
A similar incident happened a few years ago- involving Muslim clerics, or imams, traveling to the exact same annual conference. Gawker’s Max Read uses sarcasm to show how absurd the whole thing is.
“You'd think the North American Imam Federation would have learned its lesson in 2006, when six imams traveling to one of its conferences were kicked off a plane in Minneapolis. But no! The organization continues to hold gatherings all over the country, "freely assembling" while trying to "address prejudice." And worse, its members want to fly on planes!”
The booted travelers’ attorney tells CNN they are considering filing a lawsuit.

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1. By: newsydotcom
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4. Added :09-May-11
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