Flying While Arab: Two Passengers Removed From Boston Flight After Speaking Arabic

In the aftermath of the explosion in Boston, Muslims again appear the target of arbitrary suspicion and detention. On a flight from Boston to Chicago, passengers became alarmed when two different passengers were heard speaking in Arabic. The two passengers were not traveling or seated together but the flight crew returned to the gate to have the two passengers detained.

Several passengers were marathoners. The two men were removed from the plane and detained . . . for speaking one of the most common languages on Earth.

Putting aside the prejudice in the treatment of Arabic speakers, it is illogical to think that terrorists would speak in Arabic if they were truly going to harm passengers. True terrorists try to blend in with population.

The airline bears responsibility for this conduct. There should be more than simply speaking Arabic to have a plane returned to the gate and passengers detained.

Just for the record, estimates indicate that there are 422 million Arabic speakers in this world.  I am not sure what is required from Arabic speaking people? Should they simply not speak in public while traveling in the United States to avoid security alerts and detention?

SOURCE: KRMG