Unwarranted Personal Intrusions Violate Religious Freedom

WASHINGTON, DC - August 28, 2007 (MASNET) MAS Freedom (MASF), as the civic and human rights advocacy entity of the Muslim American Society (MAS), joins with members of the Sikh Coalition and other faith organizations in objecting to the new rules issued by the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA), regarding the permissibility of the searching of turbans, hijabs, and other religious head coverings worn by air passengers.



Requiring TSA screeners to conduct mandatory secondary screenings of religious headwear is a reversal of longstanding policy that allowed for religious such screenings to take place only there was some indication of a potential threat. The new policy is unacceptable because:



It specifically lists the turban as an example of headwear that can be subjected to secondary screening at the discretion of the screener;
The new procedure and guidance on how to implement them have been kept a secret;
The procedures (given the limited information on them released to the public) are disturbingly vague; and,
The new procedures were created without consulting any Sikhs, Sikh organizations or other religious faith organizations whose members wear religious headwear.
Such searches are unwarranted personal intrusions that violate the spirit of religious pluralism that is a founding principle of this country. Passengers, particularly those identified as members of the Sikh or Islamic traditions, should not be subjected to such blatant and disrespectful invasions of personal space, especially after having gone through standard security screenings at airports.



"While we certainly believe that all air passengers should be able to travel in safety and security, we also strongly support the protection of members of religious communities from excessive screenings and arbitrary searches, especially when these passengers have already gone through standard security examinations," stated MAS Freedom Civil and Human Rights Director, Ibrahim Abdil-Mu'id Ramey.



Ramey added, "For Both Sikhs and Muslims, religious head coverings should be regarded as part of our sacred obligations, and, therefore, treated with due respect by TSA personnel."



"We cannot stand by while TSA grants airport screeners license to conduct religious profiling," stated MAS Freedom Executive Director, Mahdi Bray. "This new policy and its implementation must be addressed and corrected immediately."



Join MAS Freedom and the Sikh Coalition in petitioning Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Michael Chertoff, for immediate reconsideration of the new screening policy by adding your signature to the online petition drive here.



"We thank you and the Sikh Coalition for your principled stand against the unwarranted personal searches of air passengers wearing religious head coverings," stated Bray.



Please share the petition link with your friends, associates, community and listservs.



Contact MASF toll-free at 1-888-627-8471 or by sending an email to MAS4Freedom@aol.com.