Passengers Claimed Men Acted Suspiciously

In a move few would call surprising, six Islamic imams who were removed from a US Airways flight late last year for suspicious behavior, and allegedly making anti-American comments, are suing the airline for discrimination.

As Aero-News reported, the religious leaders were returning from a conference in Minneapolis-St. Paul in November when they were taken off the plane, handcuffed, and questioned by authorities. Several passengers claimed the men had prayed loudly before the flight, and after boarding demanded to change seats and asked for safety-belt extensions, which they then reportedly placed under their seats.

The six were eventually let go. The Associated Press reports when the men returned to the airport the following day, they claim the airline refunded their money, but refused to book them on another US Airways flight.

The imams are seeking compensatory and punitive damages, and a legal injunction to prevent future unlawful discrimination by US Airways.

In a statement released Monday, US Airways says it hasn't seen the lawsuit... but the carrier maintains its original position that its employees "acted appropriately, and we continue to back the actions of our crew and ground employees in this case."

The incident caused a furor throughout America's Muslim population. The Muslim Public Affairs Council complained to the Department of Transportation, and the Homeland Security Department's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties said it would investigate the matter.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said passengers and crewmembers onboard the flight "succumbed to fear and prejudice based on stereotyping of Muslims and Islam." The men deny making any threatening gestures or actions.

"This civil rights lawsuit is brought to ensure that the promise of equal treatment embodied in federal and state anti-discrimination laws does not become a meaningless guarantee for persons perceived to be Muslim and/or Arab and/or Middle Eastern," CAIR said in a statement released Tuesday.

FMI: www.usairways.com, www.cair-net.org