Siblings Removed From Flight Over False Terror Accusations
Jackie Reddy August 24, 2016
The incident occurred late last week at London’s Stansted Airport. After being closely questioned by police, the confused and humiliated group was eventually allowed back on the flight.
Three siblings were removed from a recent easyJet flight at London Stansted Airport (STN) and questioned by police after fellow passengers falsely accused them of supporting the Islamic State.
Maryam, Sakina and Ali Dharas had just boarded the early morning Naples-bound flight on 18th August when they were approached by a member of the plane’s cabin crew, who asked the trio to accompany her off of the aircraft.
Maryam was immediately taken aback by the situation. She explained her confusion to the Guardian, saying, “I asked her [the crew member] ‘where are we going, can you explain where you’re taking us?’ She doesn’t reply, she completely ignores me. We’re told to walk down the stairs – at the bottom we can see there’s armed policemen.”
The authorities, as Maryam went on to explain, then proceeded to question the siblings. “The first thing the policeman asks us is if we speak English, which I personally find quite patronizing…I don’t speak any other language but English,” she told the paper.
Police also asked the siblings if they had any Arabic-language texts, including copies of the Qur’an, on their persons.
The siblings were told that other passengers had wrongly believed that Maryam and her sister were reading Isis-related material on their phones.
“We’re told a couple had reported us having been reading Isis materials…My sister and I wear headscarves. We thought, there’s clearly profiling going on here,” Maryam said.
After thoroughly interviewing the siblings, the three were offered an apology for the inconvenience of questioning and allowed back onto the plane to continue their journey.
Maryam called the experience “humiliating”.
Both local police and a spokesperson for easyJet confirmed the incident.
“The safety and security of…passengers and crew is our highest priority, which means that if a security concern is raised, we will always investigate it as a precautionary measure. We would like to apologize for any inconvenience caused to the passengers,” the carrier said.
[Photo: The Guardian]
The outrage is unjustified. This has nothing to do with Islam or the three passengers possible adherence to Islam. Another passenger expressed concern to the flight crew. The crew then advised the security personnel who investigated. This is what they are supposed to do. The very fact that one of the passengers is upset because a police officer asked her if she spoke English indicates to me that this person was looking for offense when there was none. It is not unusual for a police officer to ask the person being interviewed if he/she understands. in fact ,it is normal procedure and a case can be dismissed if a defendant shows he/she did not understand the questions. It is unfortunate that the flight was delayed and the 3 pax inconvenienced. However, in consideration of current events, the actions undertaken were understandable and were done in a professional and respectful manner. If the 3 pax were insulted, then they should consider why so many people are spooked, particularly after so many mass killings by people who were supposedly peaceful.
Unfortunately with security agencies promoting "If You See Something, Say Something" there is no way you will ever see anyone being shamed for raising a red flag.
@JackE Muslim faith allows one to pray in a seated position due to health or constraint issues. How do you think disabled or the elderly Muslims pray?
Ah, always so comfortable to be the champion of the underdog. And to be an expert with only one side to such a heart wrenching story. Do YOU know what they may or may not have said?
I would like to see airlines make a policy that when this happens, the other passengers raising the "security concern" should be escorted off for the questioning as well, and be asked to publicly apologize for delaying the departure.