Muslims Leaders: ‘Imams’ Flap Was a Pure Paranoia’

interested.NewsinsideMinneapolis, MN (HOL) - Riled by the removal of six Imams from a US Airways flight early this week, Muslim leaders said the incident has the hallmarks of a deep suspicion against Muslims, but didn’t think that the growing relationship between them and law enforcement agencies would be damaged as a result.

But faith leaders roundly criticized the Airport Commission for not providing a prayer room akin to the standards of international airports. They also urged airline executives to offer a “cultural sensitivity training” for their staff.

“Incidents like these call for more efforts to increase awareness about various cultures that make up our society,” said Zafar Siddiqui of the Islamic Resource Group. “I can understand if the common person on the street was unaware of how a Muslim prayer looks/sounds like, but it is totally unacceptable that airline employees were not aware of the Muslim prayer.”

A passenger voiced a concern over the Imams’ sunset prayer in the terminal and their utterance of “Allahu Akbar,” which means “God is great.”  The passenger also claimed that the Imams made anti-American remarks.

Ahmed Shqeirat, one of the six Imams, vehemently denied of such claims. In a telephone interview, he said that “people misconstrued  the word Allahu Akbar.”

During their five daily prayers, Muslims pronounce “Allahu Akbar” some 85 times.

The Imams were attending the fourth annual North American Imams Federation conference in Minneapolis. Among other things, they talked about strengthening their relations with non-Muslims through interfaith dialogue and law enforcement initiatives.

“The incident defeats that purpose,” said Abdisalam Adam, director of Dar Al-Hijra Cultural Center in Minneapolis.

The Imams should have been supported for their noble task, Adam said.

Congressman-elect Keith Ellison, who spoke at the Imams’ conference, sent a letter on Wednesday to US Airways and the Airport Commission to review their policies on removing people from planes.

Relations with law enforcement agencies

Siddiqui and other Muslim leaders put the blame on the airline employees and the passenger who created the problem for what happened on Monday. Law enforcement agencies cleared the Imams to board the plane, Siddiqui said.

“This is an excellent chance for the Muslim community and the law enforcement agencies to work together on ways that would avert any such incidences in future.” said Siddiqui.

One thing that has certainly gotten tougher is “flying with Muslim,” said Asad Zaman, director of Tariq Ibn Ziyad Islamic Center in Inver Grove Heights.

  Abdirahman Aynte can be reached [email protected]

Source: HOL, Nov 27, 2006