- Flying while Muslim
Flying while Muslim or Muslim while flying, is an expression referring to the problems
Muslim passengers onairplane s can face in the aftermath of theSeptember 11, 2001 attacks . It is constructed in an analogy to the older expression "walking/driving while black", which similarly satirizesracial profiling ofblack people bypolice and other law enforcement. [ [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/13/usnews/whispers/main2472666.shtml Islamic Activists Ask, Is There A 'flying While Muslim' Bias?] ]An early usage of the phrase is dated by 2001. ["I've faced both kinds of profiling: driving while black and flying while Muslim" in: " [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00712F9345C0C768DDDA00894D9404482 Metro Matters; Last Week, Profiling Was Wrong] " by
Joyce Purnick , "The New York Times ",September 15 ,2001 ]The issue was brought to media attention once more in
2006 when six Muslimimam s were removed from aUS Airways flight after they reportedly engaged in suspicious behavior reminiscent of that of the 9/11 hijackers. [ [http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/michael_smerconish/20070408_Head_Strong___See_suspicious_acts__Feel_free_to_report_them.html See suspicious acts Feel free to report them] "The Philadelphia Inquirer " April 08 2007] [ [http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0612/S00021.htm "Not Flying While Muslim"] by William Fisher (opinion piece).] Conservative pundits such asAnn Coulter andRobert Spencer argued that airlines have a right to treat Muslim passengers with suspicion as a consequence ofIslamist terrorism . [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=18180 "What Can I Do to Make Your Flight More Uncomfortable?"] byAnn Coulter ; [http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=18171 "Muslim Imams: The New Rosa Parks?"] by Robert Spencer.]Omar Shahin , one of the six imams, countered that such fears were unfounded. "All the evidence shows that those involved in this terrorist act [9/11] were not true Muslims," he said. [ [http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20061201-121239-7193r.htm "Imam disputes tie to Hamas"] , "The Washington Times ",December 1 ,2006 ]ee also
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Driving While Black
*Flying Imams controversy References
External links
* [http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/21/passengers.removed/ "Airline checks claim of 'Muslim while flying' discrimination"] CNN
* [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15856333/site/newsweek/page/2/ "'Flying while Muslim'"] , "Newsweek".
* [http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2006/11/22/mn/00mnnews1122.txt "In some Muslim eyes, another case of 'Flying while Muslim'"] , "La Cross Tribune".
* [http://www.flyingwhilemuslim.com/ "Flying While Muslim"] Website for upcoming documentary.
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