The Student Room Group

University Student kicked off plane for speaking Arabic

A UC Berkely student Khairuldeen Makhzoumi was forced off a plane for speaking Arabic on the phone



'He was speaking on the phone with his uncle in baghdad about an event he'd been excited to attend the day before: a dinner with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. As he said goodbye, he used the phrase "Inshallah"* literally translating into God is willing.'
*The phrase Inshallah is an arabic word however it is commonly used not only by all Muslims and Arab non-Muslims but also by some non-Arab non-muslims(e.g. Armenians), the generic translation and more contextual translation is "Hopefully".

'The student said after he hung up, he noticed a female passenger looking at him who then got up and left her seat.'

" She kept staring at me and I didn't know what was wrong, at first I thought she was concerned about me speaking loudly. Then I realized what was happening and I was just thinking 'I hope she's not reporting me.' "

"One guy came with police officers within two minutes -- I can't believe how fast they were -- and told me to get off the plane," he said.'
"Then, Makhzoomi said, dogs came and sniffed his bag, someone searched him at the gate and took his wallet, and FBI agents escorted him away.

"The way they searched me and the dogs, the officers, people were watching me and the humilation made me so afraid because it brought all of these memories back to me. I escaped Iraq because of the war, because of Saddam and what he did to my father." Makhzoomie told the Daily Californian.

He says one of the agents asked a question that surprised him: "You need to be very honest with us with what you said about the martyrs. Tell us everything you know about the martyrs." The moment she said that, I told her I never said that word ( Shahid,شهيد‎ ) I only said insha'Allah." The questioning soon ended "Southwest will not fly you back," the agent said. "You may go."

*Shahid and Shaheed (Arabic: شهيد‎ šahīd, plural: شُهَدَاء šuhadāʾ ) originates from the Quranic Arabic word meaning "witness" and is also used to denote a "martyr".

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/17/us/southwest-muslim-passenger-removed/index.html
http://thinkprogress.org/world/2016/04/16/3770159/iraqi-banned-from-flying/
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/us/student-speaking-arabic-removed-southwest-airlines-plane.html?_r=0

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My opinion on the story:

Honestly this is text book definition of Islamophobia. To be honest I'm not surprised about the old women who reported him, she probably gets her news/information from Fox News or perhaps from an even more bigoted source, TSR's right wing. But at the end of the day, if she really did hear him say shahid OK fine, I guess its better to be safe then sorry. This is where the mistake lies completely 100% on the Airline company, after searching him infront of everyone (claims even his genitals were searched/ will link a source as more information is revealed) and then the FBI/Security confirming he is safe to board, the airline company still bans him from flying their plane forcing him to be delayed 9 hours. Absolutely ridiculous
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Thoughts?

Scroll to see replies

Original post by Mentally

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My opinion on the story:

Honestly this is text book definition of Islamophobia. To be honest I'm not surprised about the old women who reported him, she probably gets her news/information from Fox News or perhaps from an even more bigoted source, TSR's right wing. But at the end of the day, if she really did hear him say shahid OK fine, I guess its better to be safe then sorry. This is where the mistake lies completely 100% on the Airline company, after searching him infront of everyone (claims even his genitals were searched/ will link a source as more information is revealed) and then the FBI/Security confirming he is safe to board, the airline company still bans him from flying their plane forcing him to be delayed 9 hours. Absolutely ridiculous
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Thoughts?


This isn't Islamophobia at all - someone raised concerns about what they heard and those concerns were acted upon. I very much think that it's right to have a better safe than sorry approach in these instances and the airline can't win can it - if it hadn't acted and something had happened, then they would have been blame, but when they act and it turns out to be innocent, then they're accused of Islamophobia.
Reply 2
Original post by toronto353
This isn't Islamophobia at all - someone raised concerns about what they heard and those concerns were acted upon. I very much think that it's right to have a better safe than sorry approach in these instances and the airline can't win can it - if it hadn't acted and something had happened, then they would have been blame, but when they act and it turns out to be innocent, then they're accused of Islamophobia.

Red the OP again, after finding out he was innocent they still banned him.
Original post by Mentally
Red the OP again, after finding out he was innocent they still banned him.


I read the OP and we don't know why they banned him really, there's very often more than meets the eye to these one sided stories.
What a ****ing joke. The airline should be ashamed. We can't even speak Arabic now without being suspected as a terrorist :angry:
Reply 5
Original post by childofthesun
What a ****ing joke. The airline should be ashamed. We can't even speak Arabic now without being suspected as a terrorist :angry:

I know my parents told me never to speak arabic anywhere near an airport/ on airplane but I dismissed it and honestly didn't believe it would be this bad.
Though i reckon you should be fine if you're travelling Fly Emirates, Qatar airways, Etihad, Brunei airlines, Turkish airways
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 6
Original post by Mentally
A UC Berkely student Khairuldeen Makhzoumi was forced off a plane for speaking Arabic on the phone



'He was speaking on the phone with his uncle in baghdad about an event he'd been excited to attend the day before: a dinner with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. As he said goodbye, he used the phrase "Inshallah"* literally translating into God is willing.'
*The phrase Inshallah is an arabic word however it is commonly used not only by all Muslims and Arab non-Muslims but also by some non-Arab non-muslims(e.g. Armenians), the generic translation and more contextual translation is "Hopefully".

'The student said after he hung up, he noticed a female passenger looking at him who then got up and left her seat.'

" She kept staring at me and I didn't know what was wrong, at first I thought she was concerned about me speaking loudly. Then I realized what was happening and I was just thinking 'I hope she's not reporting me.' "

"One guy came with police officers within two minutes -- I can't believe how fast they were -- and told me to get off the plane," he said.'
"Then, Makhzoomi said, dogs came and sniffed his bag, someone searched him at the gate and took his wallet, and FBI agents escorted him away.

"The way they searched me and the dogs, the officers, people were watching me and the humilation made me so afraid because it brought all of these memories back to me. I escaped Iraq because of the war, because of Saddam and what he did to my father." Makhzoomie told the Daily Californian.

He says one of the agents asked a question that surprised him: "You need to be very honest with us with what you said about the martyrs. Tell us everything you know about the martyrs." The moment she said that, I told her I never said that word ( Shahid,شهيد‎ ) I only said insha'Allah." The questioning soon ended "Southwest will not fly you back," the agent said. "You may go."

*Shahid and Shaheed (Arabic: شهيد‎ šahīd, plural: شُهَدَاء šuhadāʾ ) originates from the Quranic Arabic word meaning "witness" and is also used to denote a "martyr".

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/04/17/us/southwest-muslim-passenger-removed/index.html
http://thinkprogress.org/world/2016/04/16/3770159/iraqi-banned-from-flying/
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/17/us/student-speaking-arabic-removed-southwest-airlines-plane.html?_r=0

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My opinion on the story:

Honestly this is text book definition of Islamophobia. To be honest I'm not surprised about the old women who reported him, she probably gets her news/information from Fox News or perhaps from an even more bigoted source, TSR's right wing. But at the end of the day, if she really did hear him say shahid OK fine, I guess its better to be safe then sorry. This is where the mistake lies completely 100% on the Airline company, after searching him infront of everyone (claims even his genitals were searched/ will link a source as more information is revealed) and then the FBI/Security confirming he is safe to board, the airline company still bans him from flying their plane forcing him to be delayed 9 hours. Absolutely ridiculous
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thoughts?


There must be more than that into this story
Reply 7
Original post by toronto353
This isn't Islamophobia at all - someone raised concerns about what they heard and those concerns were acted upon. I very much think that it's right to have a better safe than sorry approach in these instances and the airline can't win can it - if it hadn't acted and something had happened, then they would have been blame, but when they act and it turns out to be innocent, then they're accused of Islamophobia.

Wow so people can't even speak their own language now?
How ridiculous and bigoted.
Original post by toronto353
This isn't Islamophobia at all - someone raised concerns about what they heard and those concerns were acted upon. I very much think that it's right to have a better safe than sorry approach in these instances and the airline can't win can it - if it hadn't acted and something had happened, then they would have been blame, but when they act and it turns out to be innocent, then they're accused of Islamophobia.


and this is coming from a community assistant... wow.

Spoiler

Original post by HAnwar
Wow so people can't even speak their own language now?
How ridiculous and bigoted.


It's not ridiculous and it's not bigoted and I too would like to live in a world where we didn't suspect our fellow human beings. We don't, however, and as I say, can you imagine the uproar had this guy been plotting something and the airline, though alerted, did nothing? As I say, we don't know the whole story and many times it turns out there's far more to it than meets the eye.

Original post by alkaline.
and this is coming from a community assistant... wow.

Spoiler



I don't see what me being a community assistant has to do with it at all - see my concerns above.
Original post by toronto353
It's not ridiculous and it's not bigoted and I too would like to live in a world where we didn't suspect our fellow human beings. We don't, however, and as I say, can you imagine the uproar had this guy been plotting something and the airline, though alerted, did nothing? As I say, we don't know the whole story and many times it turns out there's far more to it than meets the eye.



I don't see what me being a community assistant has to do with it at all - see my concerns above.


So you're saying we should remove anyone from the plane who speaks Arabic? - because that's the only reason he was removed from the plane and you seem to be defending that. So by your logic anyone who speaks Arabic has to be removed from the plane.
Original post by toronto353
This isn't Islamophobia at all - someone raised concerns about what they heard and those concerns were acted upon. I very much think that it's right to have a better safe than sorry approach in these instances and the airline can't win can it - if it hadn't acted and something had happened, then they would have been blame, but when they act and it turns out to be innocent, then they're accused of Islamophobia.


so every white guy should be escorted from schools and cinemas?
Original post by Mr Hyde(r)
So you're saying we should remove anyone from the plane who speaks Arabic? - because that's the only reason he was removed from the plane and you seem to be defending that. So by your logic anyone who speaks Arabic has to be removed from the plane.


No, let's remove the idea of him speaking Arabic on a plane for a moment and let's say that person X brought hand luggage onto a plane. Now before the flight, he was a bit jittery say and wanted to check that his bag (containing valuables say) was safe and he does this repeatedly. Another passenger sees this, is suspicious, and alerts the authorities - now is that wrong? This isn't an issue of race or Islamophobia at all and you are wrong to make it into one - this is a security issue when the person reporting him thought that they had good grounds for doing so.
Original post by toronto353
It's not ridiculous and it's not bigoted and I too would like to live in a world where we didn't suspect our fellow human beings. We don't, however, and as I say, can you imagine the uproar had this guy been plotting something and the airline, though alerted, did nothing? As I say, we don't know the whole story and many times it turns out there's far more to it than meets the eye.


So a guy can't plot in English, Spanish, or French but whenever there's Arabic involved, it suddenly becomes a terrorist plot?


What idiocy and your attempts to excuse and normalise such behaviour and racial/religious profiling is contributing to the spread of Islamophobia.

I expected such short-sightedness from our resident Islamophobes and racists but I didn't know that TSR Community Assistants would engage in such behaviour.
Original post by toronto353
No, let's remove the idea of him speaking Arabic on a plane for a moment and let's say that person X brought hand luggage onto a plane. Now before the flight, he was a bit jittery say and wanted to check that his bag (containing valuables say) was safe and he does this repeatedly. Another passenger sees this, is suspicious, and alerts the authorities - now is that wrong? This isn't an issue of race or Islamophobia at all and you are wrong to make it into one - this is a security issue when the person reporting him thought that they had good grounds for doing so.


You can't compare removing someone from a plane for speaking a certain language to removing someone from a plane for acting nervous, suspicious and constantly checking his luggage. That's just illogical, one is legitimate the other isn't.

'Good ground for doing so' - yea, speaking a different language is good grounds
Original post by toronto353
No, let's remove the idea of him speaking Arabic on a plane for a moment and let's say that person X brought hand luggage onto a plane. Now before the flight, he was a bit jittery say and wanted to check that his bag (containing valuables say) was safe and he does this repeatedly. Another passenger sees this, is suspicious, and alerts the authorities - now is that wrong? This isn't an issue of race or Islamophobia at all and you are wrong to make it into one - this is a security issue when the person reporting him thought that they had good grounds for doing so.


QUOTE=TheArtofProtest;64271543]So a guy can't plot in English, Spanish, or French but whenever there's Arabic involved, it suddenly becomes a terrorist plot?


What idiocy and your attempts to excuse and normalise such behaviour and racial/religious profiling is contributing to the spread of Islamophobia.

I expected such short-sightedness from our resident Islamophobes and racists but I didn't know that TSR Community Assistants would engage in such behaviour.

See above - for me, this is about airline security first and foremost, I don't think that the fact he's speaking Arabic comes into it, someone viewed him acting suspiciously and they reported it.
Original post by Mr Hyde(r)
You can't compare removing someone from a plane for speaking a certain language to removing someone from a plane for acting nervous, suspicious and constantly checking his luggage. That's just illogical, one is legitimate the other isn't.

'Good ground for doing so' - yea, speaking a different language is good grounds


We don't know how he was acting, we only have his account and his word for what he said which will naturally be biased (as would the airline's statement to the contrary). I think that you're making this an issue of race and religion, when in my view, it's an issue of airline security, race shouldn't come into it.
Reply 17
Are you ****ing serious?

People saying this isn't islamophobia just go **** off in all seriousness. We can't speak our own language without being identified as terrorists.
He was kicked off the plane after being searched and found clear.
The most annoying thing: You try to explain to these fbi **** bags or the absolutley **** brick retarded staff what you were saying, they think you are covering up or, in many places, being cheeky.
This guy then had his flight delayed.
Honestly, I would love to see this lady who thought he was planning some sort of terrorist attack. Despite having to go through the same security as her at the airport. Tbh, the guy doesn't even look like a terrorst - From his picture he looks so nice and a lovely man to meet (first opinion before even reading op's post).
Why was he denied back on the flight? Despite being cleared and allowed to go they still thought he was planning or plotting...??? I actually don't get it.
I would love to see this taken to court or taken as a serious case like that Muslim family who were prevented from flying to ****ING DISNEYLAND! NOT ISIS OR IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN OR SOMETHING, ****ING DISNEYLAND, A FAMILY!!?!?!?!!? That guy got his lawyer involved properly.
People like this who have islamophobia this bad make me disgusted. I am proud to be Muslim and feel sick at people who think this way of us. No wonder Muslims are portrayed so badly. The media have freedom of speech. Especially in America, land of the retarded in my opnion. Then people watch this and think yeah Muslims are bad. People say yeah Muslims go and join ISIS. People say yeah Islam supports terrorism etc etc. Like are you retarded? The only thing that gets me through this is keeping calm and one day imagining all of these people burning in hell fire and inshallah me and my fellow Muslim brothers and sisters are in paradise. (That statemen is going to cause a huge uproar, just watch). Let us see how many 'peace' and 'terrorist' and 'islam promotes violence' comments there are now.
I did also just say Muslim brothers and sisters. People in Islam will understand that. But we should stop saying this too probably. Why? Because the stupid, uneducated, sick minded, disgraceful and pathetic public will think this is some sort of messed up incest comment. I mean, it is the public nowadays right? :smile: (Muslims gonna like that one)
Reply 18
Original post by toronto353
QUOTE=TheArtofProtest;64271543]So a guy can't plot in English, Spanish, or French but whenever there's Arabic involved, it suddenly becomes a terrorist plot?


What idiocy and your attempts to excuse and normalise such behaviour and racial/religious profiling is contributing to the spread of Islamophobia.

I expected such short-sightedness from our resident Islamophobes and racists but I didn't know that TSR Community Assistants would engage in such behaviour.


See above - for me, this is about airline security first and foremost, I don't think that the fact he's speaking Arabic comes into it, someone viewed him acting suspiciously and they reported it.

Ok next time you're on the plane having a conversation, and someone mishears you saying Tom for bomb, they have the right to report you right, because that was suspicious behaviour to them?
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 19
Original post by toronto353
QUOTE=TheArtofProtest;64271543]So a guy can't plot in English, Spanish, or French but whenever there's Arabic involved, it suddenly becomes a terrorist plot?


What idiocy and your attempts to excuse and normalise such behaviour and racial/religious profiling is contributing to the spread of Islamophobia.

I expected such short-sightedness from our resident Islamophobes and racists but I didn't know that TSR Community Assistants would engage in such behaviour.


See above - for me, this is about airline security first and foremost, I don't think that the fact he's speaking Arabic comes into it, someone viewed him acting suspiciously and they reported it.
Mate, stop ****ing around.

"someone viewed him acting suspiciously and they reported it"

HOW?!?!!?!? WHAT WAS SUSPICIOUS? THE USE OF A MOBILE? THE FACT THAT HE WAS SITTING ON A PLANE AND IS BROWN? OR.... THE FACT THAT HE WAS SPEAKING ARABIC????????


CLEARLY, ARABIC IT IS.


SO ARABIC LANGUAGE IS 'SUSPICIOUS'? LIKE ARE YOU SERIOUS?

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