Racial treatment

[Spring Onion]

'Her Pakistani roots caused airport alarm'


CEREDO (WEST VIRGINIA): A Pakistani woman whose daughter's carry-on luggage caused an airport to shut down for 9 1/2 hours says it was her ethnic background, not a few bottles of suspicious liquids that set off security officials.

Initial laboratory testing by the FBI turned up no evidence of explosive materials in the bottles carried at Tri-State Airport in West Virginia by Rima Qayyum, a 28-year-old Pakistani woman dressed in the traditional Islamic headcover.

No charges were filed against the woman, who was never detained and was cooperative when interviewed by the FBI.

Qayyum's mother, Mian Qayyum of Jackson, Michigan, said that her daughter is four months pregnant, lives in Barboursville and is innocent.

"It was not only a false alarm, it was racial discrimination because there was nothing," Mian Qayyum said. "They should clear her name and apologise on national TV."

The FBI did not return messages on Thursday night seeking comment on the allegations.

A screener noticed a bottle in Rima Qayyum's carry-on bag as she was going through security before her 9:15 am flight on Thursday to Charlotte, North Carolina, airport authority president Jim Booton said.

The terminal was evacuated at 11:25 am after two bottles of liquid in the bag initially tested positive for explosives residue twice, and a canine team also got a positive hit.

Chemical tests of the bottles' contents later turned up no explosives, said Capt. Jack Chambers, head of the State Police Special Operations unit.

​

 

[Munir]

To be honest. The people that have been doing the bad things (blowing up civilians) are the cause that lots of people of Pakistani origin have to go through checks. I agree that it is not nice but I rather go on a plane that is safe then a few hours earlier but kaboem. The problem is that politics and civilians are mixed and now we have to face the consequences.

 

[Sid]

Add to that the growing paranoia in America in general, and now, the UK.

 

[Neo]

Not only in the UK or USA but in the West generally.
Airport police here in Amsterdam is checking and questioning every single passenger with muslim appearance.
Even the ones who come to the Departure Halls to see off family and friends are bering harassed and humiliated by them.
Its a shame!:hrr:

 

[genmirajborgza786]

this is not only racial but also cruel she is pregnant and, thier was no need to create such a hullaboo over this the, closing of the airport for such long time was totally unecessory but what irked me most was the comments of glen peck from CNN regarding this issuse he realy lambasted the moslem communities spacialy of north amarica and no body raised a voice but when mel gibbson sayed something about the the jew"s we all know what he had to go through.

 

[Munir]

That is because jews act as a group. Muslims are either acting as underdog or accept their inferior position. I have't seen much from the arabs and neither are muslim one group.

About personal experience. Racism is everywhere. From lower positions up to the top. The lower you go the more open it is but when you reach top positions they are well capable of hiding their true intentions. Knowing how westeners act one can react and get it done. Last time my passport was checked more then twice as long as the white person in front of me I asked politely why there was clearly a sign that I was treated differently. He was shocked and I could follow my road... Same with police. If they know your higher education level they know how to behave. If you just walk through the city on an average day without your suit you will get questions or stupid remarks...

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

All Asians do have problems in the US with the Immigration.

Maybe 9/11 was too much of a shock.

The Colombo blast shook the South African cricket team so much so that they quit, while the Indians hung around to savour the rain.

I think we are immune to a bit of a jolt here and there and have the stoic to take it in our stride. Maybe the Westerners are not. Their world is possibly too orderly and mechanical and any disruption to their lives becomes a huge problem.

There could be racial undertones, but then I am sure that would not be universal in nature.

 

[KashifAsrar]

Just to add to Parania ....
UK passengers get two Asians thrown off jet


Incident Fuels Row Over Airport Security

Christopher Leake &Andrew Chapman



British holidaymakers staged an unprecedented mutiny — refusing to allow their flight to take off until two men they feared were terrorists were removed.
The extraordinary scenes happened after some of the 150 passengers on a Malaga-Manchester flight overheard two men of Asian appearance apparently talking Arabic.
Passengers told cabin crew they feared for their safety and demanded police action. Some stormed off the Monarch Airlines Airbus A320 minutes before it was due to leave the Costa del Sol at 3am. Others waiting for Flight ZB 613 in the departure lounge refused to board it.
The incident fuels the row over airport security following the arrest of more than 20 people allegedly planning the suicide-bombing of transatlantic jets from the UK to America. It comes amid growing demands for passenger-profiling and selective security checks.
It also raised fears that more travellers will take the law into their own hands — effectively conducting their own ‘passenger profiles’.
The passenger revolt came as Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary was accused of using the terror crisis to make money. UK government sources say he boasted to an official at the transport department: “Every time I appear on TV, I get a spike in sales.”
The Tories said the government’s failure to reassure travellers had led the Malaga passengers to “behave irrationally” and “hand a victory to terrorists”. Websites used by pilots and cabin crew were reporting further incidents. In one, two British women with young children on another flight from Spain complained about flying with a bearded Muslim even though he had been securitychecked twice before boarding.
The trouble in Malaga flared last Wednesday as two UK citizens waited in the departure lounge to board the pre-dawn flight and were heard talking what passengers took to be Arabic. Worries spread after a female passenger said she had heard something that alarmed her. Passengers noticed that, despite the heat, the pair were wearing leather jackets and thick jumpers and were regularly checking their watches.
Initially, six passengers refused to board the flight. On board the aircraft, word reached one family. To the astonishment of cabin crew, they stood up and walked off, followed quickly by others.
The Monarch pilot accompanied by armed police and airport security staff, approached the two men and took their passports. Half an hour later, police returned and escorted the two Asian passengers off the jet.
Schofield, 40, an area sales manager, said: “When the men were taken off they didn’t argue or say a word. They just picked up their coats and obeyed the police. They seemed resigned to the fact they were under suspicion.” DAILY MAIL, LONDON

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

BBC reported that because the passengers were incongruous in their jackets and jumpers when the remainder of the passengers were in shorts and T Shirts, the suspicion was aroused.

Actually, if one views it dispassionately, in these days of terror threat, the passsenger cannot be faulted for their fear. I too would hate to be in an aircraft that explodes in mid air and I plunge through the sky like a sky diver and that too without a parachute! I am sure you too would not like such an end!

Notwithstanding, whatever be the reason, it is not for the passengers to decide about the safety. It is for the pilot and nobody else. He is the captain of the craft. Even in our Army, no matter how high ranking an officer maybe on board, it is the Pilot who is in charge and the General cannot order even a minor deviation of the flight plan. The Captain of the craft can however do so on his own risk!

There was an article in today's Telegraph Kolata wherein some passengers in the US wanted two Indians to be de-embarked. The Captain (pilot) instead made the ones complaining de-embark instead.

In Malaysia because I was wearing a fishing jacket with many pockets, they made me take that off and gave it a real scrutiny. Then they felt me all over so much that I got fed up and told them that I would undress and be in the raw and then they can check my clothes through a sieve if they wanted. However, I would put them on only after they were pressed. And I had no objection to hang around in Malaysia at the expence of the Malaysian govt since my visa was expiring that day! They all laughed and let me go with any further pawing!

It makes all types to make the world!