[WCUSP] Fwd: 6 IMAMS TRAVELING FROM CONFERENCE IN MINNESOTA DETAINED AT AIRPORT AND PREVENTED FROM BOARDING LATER FLIGHTS

[yvonne simmons]

--- MAS INFO <masnet-service at maslists.org> wrote:

> From: "MAS INFO" <masnet-service at maslists.org>
> Subject: 6 IMAMS TRAVELING FROM CONFERENCE IN
> MINNESOTA DETAINED AT
>  AIRPORT AND PREVENTED FROM BOARDING LATER FLIGHTS
> Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2006 14:30:06 -0500
> To: roweenayvonne at yahoo.com
> 
> In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
> 
> <<ACTION ALERT>>
> 
> 6 Imams Traveling from Conference In Minnesota
> Detained at Airport and Prevented from Boarding
> Later Flights
> 
> MAS to File Letter of Discrimination to the Federal
> Aviation Committee and Contacts Congress for an
> Investigation
> 
> WASHINGTON, DC - Nov. 21, 2006 (MASNET) Late Monday
> evening 6 Imams (religious leaders), traveling from
> a religious leader's conference in Minnesota, were
> removed from their flight and detained in the
> airport for questioning. 5 of the detained Imams
> were from Arizona while one was from California.
> 
> Reports indicate that a passenger sent a note to the
> flight crew indicating that "he felt unsafe with the
> Imams on-board". Eyewitness accounts have suggested
> that this was a result of the Imams praying their
> evening prayers in the airport terminal. Following
> their release US airways refused to allow them on
> any future flights although they were never arrested
> nor charged with any crime. After their 5 hour
> ordeal the Imams were left stranded at the airport,
> unable to purchase an outgoing flight on any of the
> remaining airlines.
> 
> "The detention of these religious leaders, and the
> refusal of the airline to allow them travel, is a
> gross example of blatant Islamophobia and the
> violation of the civil rights of Muslim passengers",
> said Imam Mahdi Bray, Executive Director of the
> Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation. "These
> religious men had already gone through the airport
> security screening, like all other passengers on the
> aircraft. The fact that some of them chose to openly
> pray did not warrant, by any means, their removal
> from the plane."
> 
> "Last time I checked public prayer was still
> protected by the U.S. constitution, which guarantees
> freedom of religion and speech. We charge the
> airline with not only discrimination, but with an
> action that is insulting and demeaning to these
> Muslim religious leaders, and to all people of
> faith."
> 
> Deedra Abboud, Director of MAS Freedom-Arizona
> stated that "This incident is just another example
> in the long list of Muslim discrimination by
> Airlines. The public disgrace of innocent people is
> unacceptable and we at MAS Freedom plan to utilize
> the resources of our 55 chapters nationwide to meet
> with top airline officials and end this blatant
> attack on our civil liberties."
> 
> MAS Freedom has forwarded a letter of discrimination
> to the Chairman (Senator Conrad Burns), and the
> Ranking Member (Senator John D. Rockefeller) of the
> Senate Aviation Subcommittee. Additionally MAS
> Freedom has contacted Congressman John Mica and
> Congressman Jerry Costello, Chairman and Ranking
> Member, of the House Aviation Subcommittee.
> 
> We call on all people of conscience to speak out
> against these attacks on our freedoms.
> 
> Individuals who are interested in this case are
> encouraged to contact Deedra Abboud, MAS
> Freedom-Arizona at: (480) 921-FREE (3373) or
> the MAS Freedom national office at: (202) 496-1288
> 
> 
>
-------------------------------------------------------------
> The Freedom Foundation is the public affairs arm of
> the Muslim American Society (MAS), a national
> grassroots religious, social, and educational
> organization. MAS is America's largest grassroots
> Muslim organization with over 50 chapters
> nationwide. Learn more at www.masnet.org
>
-------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> MAS Freedom Foundation
> 1050 17th Street NW, Suite 600
> Washington, DC 20036
> Tel: (202) 496-1288
> Fax: (202) 463-0686
> URL: http://www.masnet.org/index_publicaffairs.asp
> Email: MAS4Freedom at aol.com
>
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