The head of an Islamic civil rights organization on Tuesday warned of increased racial profiling of Muslims after a plane was diverted from takeoff in Baltimore when a passenger raised concerns about the “suspicious activity” of a traveler whose companions included people who reportedly appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent.
“That just indicates it’s what we suspected all along. It’s flying while Muslim,” said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and its Chicago chapter today are calling on Spirit Airlines to issue a public apology to four passengers who were removed from a Chicago-bound flight at the Baltimore Washington International Airport in Baltimore, Md. Tuesday morning.
The Chicago Tribune, quoting passengers after the plane landed, said at least two of the people removed from the plane appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent, and one was watching a news report on his mobile phone as the plane taxied toward the runway.
