MAS Plans "Pray-In" at Reagan Airport

Sat, Nov 25, 2006 at 8:31:31 am PST

Another Muslim Brotherhood front group jumps into the airport imam controversy, as the Muslim American Society (lgf: search) plans a sideshow at Reagan National Airport in Washington DC, this Monday: Imam Barred From US Airways Flight Joins Interfaith Clerics and NAACP Leader for Press Conference, Prayer, and Flight on US Airways ; MAS Freedom Conducts Airport ‘Pray-in’ and Press Conference.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ — On Monday, November 27th, 8:15 AM, at the US Airways ticket counter located in the Reagan National Airport, Imam Omar Shahin, one of the six Imams removed from US Airways flight 300, will join Imam Mahdi Bray, executive director of the MAS Freedom Foundation, Rabbi Arthur Waskow of the Shalom Center of Philadelphia, Rev Graylan Hagler of the United Church of Christ, Hillary Shelton, director of the NAACP-Washington National Office, and other interfaith members for a press statement, public prayer, and flight departure on US Airways.

The “pray-in” is in response to US Airways’ removal of Imam Omar Shahin and five other Imams traveling from a religious leader’s conference in Minnesota. Three of the Imams were observed praying prior to departure. Subsequent to boarding the plane, the six were removed from the flight, handcuffed, and detained in the airport for questioning for over five hours. Upon release, US Airways and other airlines refused to allow them to purchase tickets for other scheduled flights to Phoenix.

“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.

“The last time I checked, public prayer was still protected by the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees freedom of religion and speech. It’s a shame that as an African-American and a Muslim I have the double whammy of having to worry about driving while Black and flying while Muslim. 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.”