In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
MAS Freedom Responds to Initial U.S. District Court Victory in 'Flying Imams' Case _____ http://www.masnet.org/cms_article_files/article_4578/imams-lawsuit-us-airway s_236x202.jpg Imam Omar Shahin, Ibrahim Ramey, Walter Fauntroy, Imam Mahdi Bray, and Rabbi Arthur Waskow. WASHINGTON, D.C. ( <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=4570> MASNET) Nov. 21, 2007 - MAS Freedom ( <http://www.masnet.org/freedomfoundation.asp> MASF), as the civic and human rights advocacy entity of the Muslim American Society ( <http://www.masnet.org> MAS), responds to Minneapolis U.S. District Court Judge Ann D. Montgomery's ruling in the initial hearing of the "Flying Imams" lawsuit. In her Nov. 20, 2007, 41-page ruling <http://media.startribune.com/smedia/2007/11/21/09/shqeiratOrder11_20_07.wav .source.prod_affiliate.2.pdf> , Judge Montgomery rejected most of the defendants' arguments to dismiss the case. MAS Freedom Executive Director, Mahdi Bray stated, "Clearly the court did today what we at MAS Freedom have always urged the media and the public to do; ignore the Islamophobic hype and follow the <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3915> facts. "When we held the nationwide interfaith prayer-in <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3914> and press conference <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3908> at National Airport on behalf of the six Imams, we told the world that the Imams had done nothing wrong. We also made it clear that some members of the media - such as Fox News and Laura Ingram - had not seriously fact checked this case or their sources and were pandering misinformation and rumors. "MAS Freedom has always maintained that the <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3915> facts would reveal that it was US Airways that had violated the Imams' rights. The facts demonstrated that the Imams had been victims of religious prejudice and unwarranted hysteria . It is because of the facts and not the sentiment of fear and religious prejudice that this case has moved forward with merit. Truly facts are really stubborn things." The Star Tribune reported Frederick Goetz, one of the imams' attorneys, as stating, "This has always been a straightforward civil rights case. You had six individuals ... doing absolutely nothing wrong. They prayed in the airport and got arrested. That's unconstitutional, and they deserve redress. "They'll have their day in court on certainly the most significant issues," he said. "You don't arrest people because of their faith. You don't arrest people because of their national origin. That's just fundamentally wrong." The lawsuit was sparked by an incident at a Minneapolis airport that transpired on November 20, 2006, exactly one year-to-the-date of Judge Montgomery's initial ruling in the case, when a passenger observed the activity of six Muslim imams observing pre-flight prayers; activity that was subsequently deemed as "suspicious". Airline personnel escorted the imams off the plane and they were detained at the airport for questioning. RELATED: <http://crm.cair.com/site/R?i=QzmOdQvDP7XtqJ96YcHNTg..> Judge Rejects Dismissal of Imams' Suit <http://crm.cair.com/site/R?i=kL75UDrD3ToHp90IhBuHYg..> Judge Rejects Defense Arguments to Dismiss Imams' Lawsuit <http://media.startribune.com/smedia/2007/11/21/09/shqeiratOrder11_20_07.wav .source.prod_affiliate.2.pdf> Judge Montgomery's Memorandum Opinion and Order - Filed Nov. 20, 2007 <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=4033> MAS Freedom Executive Director Takes on FOX News Concerning Imam's US Airways Lawsuit <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3916> Imams, Airplanes, and my Grandmom <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3915> MAS Freedom Foundation 'Flying Imams' Case Fact Sheet <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3913> MAS Freedom Files Complaint to Dept. of Transportation and Justice Dept. Concerning Imams Removal from Flight <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3911> MAS Freedom Leads Interfaith Response to Air Travel Profiling <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3914> Footage of MAS Freedom "Pray-In" Now Available for Viewing Online <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3908> Imam Barred From US Airways Joins Interfaith Clerics and NAACP Leader for Press Conference, Prayer, and Flight on US Airways <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3907> Recent Treatment of Muslim Imams Prompts MAS Freedom Response <http://www.masnet.org/takeaction.asp?id=3904> 6 Imams Traveling from Conference In Minnesota Detained at Airport and Prevented from Boarding Later Flights ------------------------------------------------------------- MAS Freedom ( <http://www.masnet.org/index_publicaffairs.asp> MASF) is a civic and human rights advocacy entity and sister organization of the Muslim American Society ( <http://www.masnet.org/> MAS), the largest Muslim, grassroots, charitable, religious, social, cultural, civic and educational organization in America - with 55 chapters in 35 states. Learn more <http://www.masnet.org/> here. ------------------------------------------------------------- MAS Freedom 1325 G Street NW, Suite 500 Washington DC 20005 Phone: (202) 552-7414 Toll Free: 1-(888)-627-8471 Fax: (703) 998-6526 <http://www.masnet.org/index_publicaffairs.asp> MASF on the Web <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Contact MASF by Email
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