Muslim Clerics Barred From Flight, On Their Way To Anti-Prejudice Conference

Two Muslim clerics were removed from a flight from Memphis to Charlotte when the pilot refused to have them on the plane, saying passengers were uncomfortable with them.

Imam Mohamed Zaghloul (pictured, left, with Maleck Sarr), of the Masjid An-Noor Mosque, and Imam Masoud Rahman, a previous imam of the Muslim Society of Memphis, had cleared security and boarded their flight before being asked to disembark, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported…

“They were screened and cleared to fly,” said Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokesman Jon Allen. “The decision to deny boarding was made by the airline, not TSA.”

Atlantic Southeast Airlines, run by Delta, issues a statement:

“We take security and safety very seriously and the event is under investigation.

“Compensation and reaccommadation on the next available flight were immediately offered to the passenger and the passenger’s companion, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

The Imams were wearing Muslim garb, which apparently made the pilot nervous.

“I don’t know what kind of pilot he was, I don’t know his mentality,” Rahman said. “I think some action should be taken so this won’t happen with other people, any religion, any person, any professional.”

“It is something ridiculous,” added the Indian-born imam. “It does not happen in any country, and this is a civilized society.”

Five years ago, six imams were prevented from boarding a plane while returning from the same conference.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.