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Muslim Chaplain Alleges Discrimination on United Flight, Could’ve Used Diet Coke as “Weapon”

Tahera Ahmad (Photo: Facebook/United)

Tahera Ahmad, a Muslim chaplain and director of interfaith engagement at Northwestern University, was allegedly denied an unopened Diet Coke aboard a United Airlines flight from Chicago Friday because a flight attendant thought she might use it as a weapon.

Ahmad, 31, says she requested the unopened can for hygienic reasons and was baffled when her request was denied. When questioned, the flight attendant allegedly told Ahmad: “We are unauthorized to give unopened cans to people because they may use it as a weapon on the plane.”

The same crew member, according to Ahmad, then handed an unopened can of beer to a passenger seated nearby. Ahmad, who was wearing a hijab and on her way to a conference in Washington, claims she asked passengers around her if they’d seen what just happened and that a man seated across the aisle yelled back at her: “You Muslim, you need to shut the f*** up … You know you would use it as a weapon. So shut the f*** up.”

Ahmad shared her experience via Facebook before the flight landed, prompting an outcry of support across social media platforms alongside the hashtag #UnitedForTahera, with many pledging to boycott United.

United spokesman Charles Hobart described the incident as a “misunderstanding” and that the flight attendant had attempted to accommodate Ahmad’s request several times. Hobart added that airline officials spoke with Ahmad the following day to apologize and “get a better understanding” of what happened.

Ahmad says she has received unopened drinks on previous United flights but “this is not about a can of soda.” On Facebook, she wrote that she was “truly disappointed” with United’s response and that the airline “disregarded and trivialized” the discrimination she experienced. According to the same Facebook post, Ahmad has yet to receive a “written sincere apology for the pain and hurt” she endured.

[Photo: Facebook/United Airlines]

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9 Comments
R
redreeper June 2, 2015

DYKWIA with a kerchief.

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bodapaty June 2, 2015

Just cannot believe that an FA would make such a non-PC comment as alleged. People in the US, bend over backwards to NOT make comments that could even remotely sound offensive. And a co-passenger using the F bomb? Give me a break. I know there are some pretty obnoxious FA and passengers out there, but this doesn't pass the smell test...

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ComeFlyWithMe33 June 2, 2015

I was on this flight and this lady is not telling the truth. She was seated in the bulkhead row and when she was denied an unopened can of diet coke she said "What do you think I will use it as a weapon. I feel discriminated against... I need your name..." Then she started yelling "I need your name I feel discriminated against". This lady was being ridiculous and just pulled the discrimination card since she did not get what she wanted. The flight attendant tried numerous times to bring her a drink to which the woman put her hand in her face rudely. This lady was a huge b*tch! The second this happened she bought the inflight wifi and started spinning her story on social media. She was never in tears and overall seemed very arrogant and rude.

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turner32 June 2, 2015

It was perhaps unwise of FT to begin a thread on this story, as they must understand that it's simply not permitted to say anything about muslims.. Rolleyes.

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Alimo June 2, 2015

Am I really reading this? Some people are just unbelievable. This woman was recognized at the White House last year "as a leading Muslim female in the United States" during Women's History Month. She works with Secretary of State John Kerry on the State Department’s Office of Faith-Based Community Initiatives. She is an advocate of women's rights and gender equality. When this United Airlines fiasco took place, she was on her way to a conference promoting dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian youth. What a way to treat a person trying to bring peace in a world filled with hate. @Celsius1939, that's insane. "On the side of the Christians and Jews"? Your mentality of "us vs them" is the root of bigotry. I don't know what you mean by "sides", but she definitely advocates for peace and dialogue with Christians and Jews. Also, just wondering, what exactly did you expect her to do to "make it clear" she is moderate? To stand up and say, "I condemn anybody who claims to do crimes in the name of Islam"? No religion, culture, or creed has a monopoly on terrorism. So do you expect any person from any religious/cultural background to announce that they condemn any acts of terrorism done in the name of their beliefs before they speak? Absolutely unbelievable. It's crazy how much hate there is in this world. http://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/winter2013/feature/heart-and-soul-sidebar/millars-rock-star.html http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/30/us/united-flight-muslim-chaplain/ http://www.pugetsound.edu/news-and-events/campus-news/details/1353/