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Muslim Scholars Rule That Body Scanners Violate Islamic Law

By Howard M. Friedman

According to yesterday's Detroit Free Press, the Fiqh Council of North America, a body of Islamic scholars, has ruled this week that going through airport body scanners would violate Islamic law. The fatwa concludes that the scanners violate Islamic rules on modesty. The Transportation Security Administration said that body scanners are optional for all passengers. Those opting out will instead receive equivalent screening that may include a physical pat down, hand wanding and other technologies. Pat downs are performed by TSA officers of the same sex as the passenger, and at the passenger's request can be performed in a private area. Muslim groups are urging their members to opt for these alternative methods.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 12, 2010 (boomark / email).