• ALERT: Muslim Student Missing in Kansas
• CAIR-MI: Leaders of Protest at Lowe's Comment on Situation
  When asked about the group's accusation that "All-American Muslim" fails to accurately portray Muslims, [CAIR-MI's Dawud Walid] said "That's like saying the Cosby show didn't depict black American life because there were no drug dealer characters. That's a racist and ignorant position."
  • Civil Rights Commissioner: Lowe's 'Cowardly' for Pulling Ads

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR: Tenn. Imams' Suit Accuses Delta of Passenger Profiling

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 12/19/11) –- The Council on American-Islamic Relations(CAIR) and United Firm of Carolina Law (UFC Law) today announced the filing of a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines and Atlantic Southeast Airlines for removing two Islamic religious leaders, or imams, from a flight to a conference on Islamophobia in Charlotte, N.C., earlier this year after the pilot refused to fly with them on board.

CAIR and UFC Law attorneys announced the lawsuit at a news conference earlier today at Memphis International Airport in Tennessee. Interfaith leaders also took part in the news conference.

Video: Tenn. Imams to File Delta Profiling Suit Monday (CAIR)
Lawsuit Claims Pilot Refused to Fly Muslims (WBTV)
Muslims Kicked Off Flight Sue Delta Air Lines (Commercial Appeal)

The lawsuit states in part:

"Despite having been cleared twice by TSA agents, Defendants' pilot took the matter into his own hands when he chose to eject Plaintiffs from the flight based on arbitrary and capricious reasons, including his personal preconceived notions of race, religion, and national origin."

According to the lawsuit, the defendants violated both a federal law preventing an air carrier from subjecting a passenger to "discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or ancestry" and a Tennessee law that prohibits denying an individual the "full and equal enjoyment of the. . .advantages and accommodations of a place of public accommodation. . .on the grounds of race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, or national origin."

The lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction that would prohibit the defendants from "singling out passengers for mistreatment based on their perceived race, color, ethnicity, religion, alienage, ancestry, and/or national origin" and order them to "take all affirmative steps necessary to remedy the effects of the illegal, discriminatory conduct described herein and to prevent similar occurrences in the future." It also seeks attorneys' fees and compensatory and punitive damages against Delta and Atlantic Southeast Airlines "in an amount to be determined at trial."

To read the entire lawsuit, CLICK HERE.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook
Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List
Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed
Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel