March 14: Imams still 'feel anxiety' flying

By Brady Averill, Star Tribune

Last update: November 20, 2007 - 9:26 PM

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THE BIG QUESTION

To discuss the council's decision to bar some reporters from its news conference, visit the Big Question online at www.startribune.com/bigquestion.

To discuss the council's decision to bar reporters from its news conference, visit the Big Question online at www.startribune.com/bigquestion.

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WASHINGTON - Almost four months have passed since Didmar Faja was ordered off a US Airways flight at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, but he said Tuesday that he and five other Muslim imams "continue to be defamed and feel anxiety every time we fly."

Faja appeared at a news conference at the headquarters of the Council on American-Islamic Relations after the imams filed a discrimination lawsuit against US Airways and the Metropolitan Airports Commission for being ordered off the flight.

Also at the news conference was Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"First of all, we recognize that there is a legitimate fear in the society post-9/11. But also there is a fine line between being vigilant, which is important, and ... becoming a vigilante, which is dangerous," Awad said.

The airline has said its employees acted properly and in the interests of passenger safety.

The council barred a reporter from the Washington Times and a TV crew from Christian Broadcasting Network from the news conference.

Council spokesman Ibrahim Cooper said that the Christian Broadcasting Network airs anti-Islamic messages and that the Times reporter, Audrey Hudson, has covered the imams' case unfairly in the past.

Hudson disputed that claim and said the council doesn't want points of view other than its own represented.

BRADY AVERILL