I will be watching you: Muslim passenger kicked off plane in US

July 21, 2016

Washington, Jul 21: In a case of apparent racist discrimination in the US, a 40-year-old Muslim man was removed from a plane after a flight attendant publicly announced his name, seat number and said she would be "watching" him.

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The matter came to light yesterday when the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) complained to transport authorities that Mohamed Ahmed Radwan was removed from the American Airlines Flight last December because of his "identifiably Arabic and Muslim name."

According to federal law, airlines are prohibited from discriminating against passengers based on religion, ancestry and national origin, among other criteria.

CAIR sent a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) yesterday urging an investigation and also called for a "thorough examination" into prevailing practices of major airlines, The Charlotte Observer reported.

In addition, CAIR said the DOT should develop policy guidelines on objective factors to be looked at while deciding to remove a passenger from a plane.

Radwan, a chemical engineer, said he was flying from Charlotte to Detroit on December 6, 2015, on American Airlines Flight 1821.

As he was taking his allotted seat, Radwan said, a female flight attendant loudly announced, "Mohamed Ahmed, Seat 25-A, I will be watching you."

After a minute, she repeated, "Mohamed Ahmed, that is a very long name, Seat 25-A, I will be watching you." Then a third time, according to Radwan, she said, "25-A: you will be watched."

"I was in total shock. I've been flying for over 30 years, and I've never heard something like that," he said.

The flight attendant did not make such a statement about any other passenger, Radwan said. When he asked about her statements, the attendant said she was going to monitor everyone. When asked why she singled him out, the attendant accused him of being "too sensitive" and walked away, he said.

After a couple of American Airlines employees talked to him, he was told the attendant felt "uncomfortable" and he was escorted off the flight.

"I felt too unsafe to fly with American again," he said. Radwan instead booked a much later flight, which cost him about USD 1,500 and interfered with his travel plans.

Worse than the inconvenience was the humiliation of being treated like a terrorist, Radwan said.

"I've been a US citizen for 13 years, but at that moment I felt my sense of being American taken from me," he said.

In April, a Muslim woman was removed from a Southwest Airlines plane at a Chicago airport after she had asked to switch seats as she was told she had made the flight attendant "uncomfortable".

A Muslim family of five were also escorted off a United Airlines flight in March for "how they looked".

Comments

SK
 - 
Saturday, 23 Jul 2016

The airhostess should watch her HUSBAND, as to what he is doing outside the house...... Like Naren and Bopanna..

Clear cut
 - 
Friday, 22 Jul 2016

Don't blame whole nation for mistakes of one or two sick minded people's like Bopanna and kotian. They can't think much further.

Naren kotian
 - 
Friday, 22 Jul 2016

Stinky jihadist ...they deserve it ....well done America .. Love u ....haha guys don't bark about boycotting ..except population ur community cannot produce anything ...computer which u use ..processor in it ...it is owned by Jews ...apple belongs to Americans ....facebook belongs to Jew ...100% consumer oriented products are designed by non Muslims only da ....boycott Anthe kumda ...hogappa fish market open ago time aithu ...mostly kabali style nalli ...naan jihadi da andirbeku...adakke we will watch u andavle ashte ...

Ahmed
 - 
Friday, 22 Jul 2016

dear muslim brother please avoid all american products ...

Ahmed
 - 
Friday, 22 Jul 2016

American trained by RSS .....

Rizwan
 - 
Thursday, 21 Jul 2016

In same country America the boxing legend mohammed ali was honoured , and his name was about to right along with the many legends in a place where it was written in floor. But mohammed ali told if u want to honour me you have to write the name on the wall otherwise I don't want to be honoured ,Because my name resembles the name of prophet mohammed May peace be upon him. So only his name was written on the wall all other name is on floor till today.

sam
 - 
Thursday, 21 Jul 2016

Idiots...boycott american n British airways, then they will come under your feet...now days money speaks.... don't allow any flight attendant to insult any passenger.... they r feeding their family with passengers money...so let them shut their mouth and serve the passenger. Let her watch her husband and children or father n mother where they r going in her absent.

Viren Kotian
 - 
Thursday, 21 Jul 2016

What's wrong? His name was mohammed ahmad. So she the flight staff was terrorised and did what need to be done.

Akshata Rai
 - 
Thursday, 21 Jul 2016

Racism and hatred will destroy yourself. You cannot destroy others.

Rikaz
 - 
Thursday, 21 Jul 2016

Totally shameful behavior of \Stupid American Airlines\"..."

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News Network
March 30,2020

Mangaluru Mar 30: The Mangaluru South Police has registered a criminal case against a man over a 'derogatory post' against the district administration. According to DC Sindhu B Rupesh, the man identified as Melwyn Pinto had sent a derogatory message on WhatsApp.

She warned on taking stringent action against miscreants who are spreading false information and rumours about district administration under DM Act provisions.

Meanwhile, City Commissioner of Police Dr P S Harsha said, "We have noticed people going around on merry rides without purpose either on two-wheelers or in cars during the lockdown period."

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News Network
May 24,2020

Bengaluru, May 24:The first 'Sunday curfew' imposed by the Karnataka government to try and contain the spread of COVID-19 got underway in the state today, with people by and large adhering to norms, roads wearing a deserted look and almost no vehicular traffic, barring essential services.

With barricades being up across most roads in the state, people ventured out only to purchase groceries, vegetabes and medicines.

Instances of violation of Sunday curfew lockdown norms were reported in COVID-19 hotspots of Shivajinagar and Rayapura in Bengaluru and Nelamangala and Devanahalli.

Temples, malls, bars, eateries and small food joints remained shut throughout state.

In most parts of the state buses, autorickshaws and cabs did not ply.

In Bengaluru, the ever bustling Majestic area, which houses the central city bus stand, inter-city bus stand, Metro Railway Station and the City Railway Station, did not see any activity as buses did not ply and all shops were shut, police said.

Reports from Mysuru, Tumakuru, Kolar, Mangaluru, Udupi and other towns across the state said there were no lockdown violations.

Amid the rigid curfew marriages were conducted in a simple manner in various parts of the state like Gollarahatti and Yashwanthapura in Bengaluru and also in Davangere.

Families of the brides and grooms invited only a few people for the event, adhered to social distancing norms and wore masks.

In Gollarahatti, the event organisers cleaned the road, after which the invitees, who were hardly 25 to 30 in number, sat down to have a feast.

The Karnataka government had eased restrictions during Lockdown 4 for start of economic activities like city buses, inter-district bus service, intrastate train services, opening of shops and markets.

However, the government had made it clear that there will be 'Janata Curfew' every Sunday during which only essential services would be permitted.

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coastaldigest.com news network
January 8,2020

Mangaluru, Jan 8: No bandh-like situation prevailed in the coastal district of Dakshina Kannada, despite a nationwide strike called by trade union employees. Day-to-day activities are not disturbed, as buses and auto-rickshaws are moving as usual. 

However, in Bunder area, one of the business hubs of Mangaluru city, most of the shops today remained shut. As a result business was partially hit in the coastal city.

In other parts of Mangaluru city business firms, and market places are also open. Schools and colleges have not declared a holiday. government offices are also functioning as usually.

However, branches of many banks, excluding SBI, are closed for customers.

Members of various trade unions took out a rally and staged a protest in front of the Town Hall in Mangaluru.

Along with minimum wages, cancellation of contract labour system, no privatisation, welfare of farmers and other demands were also highlighted by the protestors. 

Slogans were also raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and anti-labour policies of his government. 

Members of AITUC, TUCC, AIUTUC, AIDYO, AIBEA, BSNLEU, INTUC, AIIEA, and associations of Anganwadi workers, mid-day meal workers, medical representatives, KSRTC employees, gram panchayat employees, and others took part in the protest.

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