International Law

Muslim family thrown off US jet for 'remarks'

By John Hirst

Nine Muslims, eight of them US-born citizens, were ordered off a US flight on New Year's Day after two girls overheard what airline officials described as suspicious remarks.

The group, including three children, were removed as they boarded an AirTran flight from Washington to Florida, where they planned to attend a religious retreat. One of the nine, Kashif Irfan, an anaesthetist, said his brother and his wife were discussing the safest place to sit. "[They] were discussing some aspect of airport security," he told local TV. "The only thing he said was: 'Wow, the jets are right next to my window.' I think they were remarking about safety".

Comment: It does appear that the airline overreacted and that there was an element of prejudice and discrimination. So much for Bush's war on terror...

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on January 03, 2009 (boomark / email).