(CINCINNATI, OH, 1/29/2020) – The Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today welcomed a decision by the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to fine Delta Airlines $50,000 for
its treatment of three Muslim passengers on flights in 2016.
In July 2016 a young Muslim couple from the Cincinnati area went to Europe for their ten-year anniversary. On their return flight home, they were removed from the Delta flight and subjected to interrogation by French police simply because a Delta crew member felt unsafe around them. The Muslim woman wears a headscarf or “hijab” as part of her religious practice. The USDOT determined that there were no security concerns involving this couple, and that Delta Air Lines had not put forth any legitimate security concerns.
A few days later, another Muslim passenger was removed from a Delta flight in Amsterdam in much the same manner. CAIR-Ohio filed a complaint in 2016 with the USDOT regarding the Cincinnati couple’s treatment by Delta employees.
“We welcome this decision by the Department of Transportation, which determined that our clients’ removal from the flight was discriminatory and based on their perceived religion,” said CAIR-Ohio Civil Rights Attorney Sana Hassan. “Delta has been ordered to conduct civil rights trainings for all involved cabin crew members and customer service employees. We hope that this DOT order sends a message not just to Delta, but to all airlines, that discriminatory treatment of passengers on the basis of their race, religion and national origin is illegal and will not be tolerated.”
CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Romin Iqbal also noted, “This is a step in the right direction because airlines should not be allowed to get away with mistreating passengers that belong to minority groups. We want to send the message that such behavior will not go unchecked. We will always demand accountability.”
CAIR-Ohio has published “Know Your Rights” materials online in English, Arabic, Somali, Urdu, Farsi, Bengali, and Bosnian. The multi-language civil rights materials can be found here and may be printed out for personal use or for distribution at local events.
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.
