.Iraqi says had to change t-shirt before US flight
NEW YORK (Reuters) - An Iraqi architect on Tuesday said he was forced to change his t-shirt before boarding a flight in New York because the shirt had "We will not be silent" written on it in Arabic and English.
Raed Jarrar wrote on his Internet blog
(http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com) that he was
required to change out of the shirt prior to boarding a JetBlue flight from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport to California this month because officials told him people were offended by the shirt.
In an interview with New York Public Radio on Tuesday, Jarrar said, "I grew up and spent all my life living under authoritarian regimes and I know that these things happen. But I'm shocked that they happened to me here, in the U.S."
Jarrar could not immediately be reached for comment.
JetBlue said it was investigating the August 12 incident.
"We're not clear exactly what happened," JetBlue spokeswoman Jenny Dervin said.
The American-Arab Anti-discrimination Committee said the U.S. Transportation Department and the Transportation Security Administration were also investigating the incident after the committee lodged complaints on behalf of Jarrar.
Yahoo
You can read my response to Raed here, but I have to laugh at this line:
Jarrar could not immediately be reached for comment.
Like no kidding, he has his comments closed, that's why I cross posted my response over at khalid's.
Incidentally Khalid got all defensive on me, (scroll down near the last comments), and told me to e-mail Raed, but it looks I had the better plan, AP couldn't get a hold of him.
Raed Jarrar wrote on his Internet blog
(http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com) that he was
required to change out of the shirt prior to boarding a JetBlue flight from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport to California this month because officials told him people were offended by the shirt.
In an interview with New York Public Radio on Tuesday, Jarrar said, "I grew up and spent all my life living under authoritarian regimes and I know that these things happen. But I'm shocked that they happened to me here, in the U.S."
Jarrar could not immediately be reached for comment.
JetBlue said it was investigating the August 12 incident.
"We're not clear exactly what happened," JetBlue spokeswoman Jenny Dervin said.
The American-Arab Anti-discrimination Committee said the U.S. Transportation Department and the Transportation Security Administration were also investigating the incident after the committee lodged complaints on behalf of Jarrar.
Yahoo
You can read my response to Raed here, but I have to laugh at this line:
Jarrar could not immediately be reached for comment.
Like no kidding, he has his comments closed, that's why I cross posted my response over at khalid's.
Incidentally Khalid got all defensive on me, (scroll down near the last comments), and told me to e-mail Raed, but it looks I had the better plan, AP couldn't get a hold of him.
posted by madtom at 12:30 AM
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