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Welcome to my blog. Here I share my successes and failures along my journey to becoming an anthropologist. My most prominent interest anthropologically are the new approaches to handing food security/healthy eating in the US, particularly in urban "food deserts". I enjoy the Anthropology of Tourism as well; combining food and tourism has scholarly promise. My other interests which have converted into anthropological hobbies of sorts include converts to Islam, diaspora of Muslims, and MENA in general. I also have some interest in historical archaeology.

I welcome comments, discussion and even respectful debating. I will however keep discussions to a respectable level. I reserve the right to ban anyone from this forum.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Muslims detained in airport

This is absolutely DISGUSTING! I am really really mad about how obvious discrimination is being perpetrated at Muslims, with no justification whatsoever.
Of COURSE they were profiled. Here is the news link to a recent example.
http://www.wesh.com/news/18398038/detail.html

AirTran Passengers Cry Discrimination
Muslims Detained By Authorities
POSTED: 7:40 am EST January 2, 2009
UPDATED: 9:47 am EST January 2, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. -- An AirTran Airways flight bound for Orlando from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport was delayed as 104 passengers deplaned because of a comment passengers said they overheard another passenger make.
Officials allowed 95 of those passengers to return to the plane, but detained nine others who are Muslim. The alleged comments raised security questions with passengers who in turn notified authorities.
Some of the nine passengers who were not allowed back on that flight said they feel they were profiled because of their religion. According to the Council on American Islamic Relations known as CAIR, the Muslims were also refused rebooking with the airline.

The nine passengers were cleared by federal authorities. AirTran Airways said all were offered full refunds and may fly with the airline again.

2 comments:

Susie of Arabia said...

I thought this was blatant racism and discrimination when I read it. It was a family, including three women, and three children, for crikey's sake! And that the airline wouldn't accommodate them even after they were all cleared by the FBI - sounds like they have reasonable cause for a hefty lawsuit on their hands. I'm so sick of people jumping to conclusions about others based on what they are wearing or look like. What really surprised me was that I saw an unofficial poll where over half of those respondents felt the airline handled the situation satisfactorily. And then 75% of the respondents also said that if the same conversation was overheard coming from white folks, it would have been no big deal. Geez!

Anthrogeek10 said...

I agree. It was blatent discrimination. I feel horrible for the people who are being discriminated against.