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A press release from The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty:
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a public interest law firm renowned for defending all faiths, today offered to defend for free any individual citizens sued by the Muslim plaintiffs in what has become known as “the case of the flying imams.” “The Flying Imams” lawsuit was announced on March 13 by Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The suit was filed by a New York attorney, Mr. Omar T. Mohammedi, on behalf of six Muslim leaders who were taken off a US Airways flight under disputed circumstances in November, 2006.The lawsuit targets the airline, Minnesota’s Metropolitan Airports Commission, (a government agency) and – significantly – several “John Does.” The complaint makes clear that at least some of these John Does are placeholders for ordinary citizens who are alleged to have reported their concerns about the conduct of the imams to the airlines.
In a stinging open letter to Mr. Awad, Becket Fund president Kevin J. Hasson denounced the targeting of private citizens as far outside the scope of legitimate civil rights test cases.
In its 12 year history the Becket Fund has represented clients from Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and other traditions. This is, however, the first time they’ve ever opposed someone’s claim of religious discrimination. The Becket Fund will also promptly seek leave to file a brief in the case urging the trial court to keep secret the identity of the John Does. Hasson said they were driven to such action by the outrageousness of the Flying Imams’ tactics. “We know religious liberty. Religious liberty is a client of ours,” Hasson says in the letter. “And this claim is not about religious liberty.”
Posted by Robert at March 23, 2007 12:29 PM
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It is about time someone starts calling this terrorism as that is exactly what it is! America has been plagued by this same terrorism for almost 50 years. Ambulance chasing lawyers started it which drove up our medical costs so no one can afford a doctor and it was picked up by abortionists, environmental terrorists and now Islamic thugs attempting to abort security from the womb of the Republic.
I strongly recommend that there be an executive in the federal and state who can be appealed to in checks and balances in designating these types of cases terrorism.
The Justice Department would then charge these terrorists and try them in a tribunal.
Gitmo would be a wonderful place for about a thousand orange dressed lawyers and imams being fined a thousand dollars a day.
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at March 23, 2007 12:43 PM
These saudi puppets are bluffing. They don't want this case to go to trial. It's time to call their bluff. US Air, together with all other Western airlines, and all true champions of civil liberties (ACLU need not apply) should challenge this blatant scheme to compromise our security, stifle our freedom, and further the jihad.
Posted by: Infidel33 at March 23, 2007 1:06 PM
I sure hope and pray that USAir fights these islamist demons and set a precedent with these muslim losers. no more taqia
Posted by: ZenaWarriorPrincess at March 23, 2007 1:29 PM
Tactics in Case of the Flying Imams Akin to "Legal Terrorism"
"Legal Terrorism" is a good way to put it. It's a tactic to frighten ordinary folks, whose families could be put in jeopardy of life or limb from some creep calling their homes at 2:30 AM (similar to what has happened to Waffa Sultan and others who merely expressed opinions). Ordinary people don't want their families (especially their kids) hassled by creeps like CAIR phonies-liars and CAIR and flying phonies know that. These are Nazi tactics of Gauliter "Pig eyes" Herr Hooper and the CAIR-Bund. It is "Legal Terrorism".
at March 23, 2007 1:33 PM
The proper German spelling is "Gauleiter" for the Nazi part officials in Germany or the German-American Bund in the US. I just looked it up. Anyway, Gauleiter Hooper and the Cair-Bund are engaged in Legal Terrorism.
Posted by: Frank at March 23, 2007 1:44 PM
Hear Mark Levin's no nonsense monologue about these 6 flying imams suing US Airways AND those passengers who reported the imams intimidating actions.
Tab down to first speaker Icon under "Not All Muslims Support CAIR Plan to Sue U.S. Airways"…
http://marklevinfan.com/?cat=11
at March 23, 2007 1:52 PM
Putting the pieces of the Islamist puzzle together:
The Threat Worse than Islamic Terrorism
Posted by: Foehammer at March 23, 2007 1:55 PM
By the way, the Becket Fund is going to have to eventually adjust its position on what constitutes a religion worth defending and what doesn't. Too broad a brush paints a work not worth looking at.
Posted by: Foehammer at March 23, 2007 1:56 PM
http://bytwerk.com/gpa/gauleiter.htm
Posted by: Frank at March 23, 2007 1:56 PM
I think the American Islamic Forum for Democracy is definitely due credit for their principled stand.
I don't expect they'll renounce their religious faith anytime soon, but I do believe that they value Democracy enough to be willing to embrace the values that make democracy and freedom possible.
In short, I think they want to be good Americans, and are willing to make whatever adjustmens are necessary to achieve that end.
I wish them luck and hope they're successful, but only time will tell.
Posted by: rational at March 23, 2007 1:57 PM
I would love to see someone counter sue and go after the imams, their congregations and CAIR. Wonder is some kind of class-action suit is possible due to the antics of the flying imams. They must have inconvenienced and/or frightened hundreds if not thousands of air passengers and their families.
Posted by: MP at March 23, 2007 1:57 PM
Would it be a bad pun to say that the Flying Imams lawsuit against the passengers is about to blow up in their face?
Posted by: Balrog at March 23, 2007 2:05 PM
I think the passengers' advocacy groups in the United States should countersue (1) the imams themselves, personally, and (2) CAIR for this hyped up publicity stunt that threatens passenger safety.
US Air should sue for every penny they had to spend, and so should TSA.
Do with these people what eventually had to be done with the KKK, with which it has so much in common:
Bankrupt them.
It's the only way.
Posted by: Morgaan Sinclair at March 23, 2007 2:06 PM
Morgaan Sinclair wrote:
"Bankrupt them."
Bankrupt Saudi Arabia? Now there's a grand endeavor indeed.
Posted by: awake at March 23, 2007 2:10 PM
I have never heard of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty but it sounds as if they are a multi-denominational equivalent of CAIR.
How ironic it is that they should castigate the imams and CAIR in such unequivocal terms!
In an ideal world, of course, every civil liberties organisation would be weighing in to defend the 'John Does'. But this is not an ideal world.
I fully expect the Becket Fund to be smeared by the usual suspects.
Posted by: A Nonny Nonny at March 23, 2007 2:18 PM
“We know religious liberty. Religious liberty is a client of ours,” Hasson says in the letter. “And this claim is not about religious liberty.”
I sent the link to Dr. Jasser at the American Islamic Forum for Democracy.
I think he'll appreciate it.
at March 23, 2007 2:24 PM
Not quite on topic:
Islam Expert: Netherlands Tolerates Muslim Excesses
Posted by: ummahnewslinks at March 23, 2007 2:50 PM
This intimidating lawsuit is a malicious attempt to SLAPP Americans into Submission.
Pun intended.
Definitions of SLAPP suit on the Web:
* A strategic lawsuit against public participation ("SLAPP") is a form of litigation filed by a large corporation or in some cases, an individual plaintiff to intimidate and silence a less powerful critic by so severely burdening them with the cost of a legal defense that they abandon their criticism. The acronym was coined in the 1980s by University of Colorado professors Penelope Canan and George W. Pring.
**********
The flying imam case transpired in the Minneapolis airport so I'm assuming that the case will be filed in the jurisdiction of the state of Minnesota.
A quick look online and I see that Minnesota has Anti-SLAPP legistlation
http://www.casp.net/mn-stat.html
******
In Al-Qudahi’een v. American West Airlines, Inc., 267 F.2d 841 (S.D. Ohio 2003), the court dismissed a lawsuit after finding the airline was immune from liability under the Federal Aviation Act, 49 U.S.C. § 44902(b). Part of that Act gives airline personnel broad discretion to remove or refuse service to passengers for safety reasons. This will likely be the silver-bullet that shoots the “Flying Imam” case right off the tarmac.
*******
http://constitutionallyright.com/2007/03/14/flying-imams-file-lawsuit-agaisnt-us-airways/#comment-10
As for the passengers who are being sued as “John Doe’s” (if they’re ever identified and hauled into court by the Imams), they’re also immune from any liability. The police reporting privilege protects people from defamation lawsuits over false statements of facts which are made in good faith, but not those made with malice. This qualified privilege allows people to report suspicious activity without the fear of being sued later for making the allegations.
Minnesota, the state where this case arose, recognizes this concept and federal courts will apply it there accordingly. Smits v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 525 N.W.2d 554 (Minn. App. 1994) (qualified privilege for good-faith reports of suspected criminal activity made to the police would serve the public interest, despite the risk that some reports might be defamatory; the potential harm suffered by one accused of criminal activity is minimal when no charges are filed; society has stronger interest than the accused in encouraging citizens to report suspected criminal activity)
*****
I agree with others stating their desire to see countersuits or high $ punitive penalties for intentionally inflicting distress and filing malicious prosecution.
at March 23, 2007 3:16 PM
This case must be thrown out of court! It is sillier than the MacDonald's $3,000,000 hot coffee lawsuit that happened a few yeas ago. I think there is legislation passed to prevent these ridiculous from happening. This case must be thrown out of court and NOW! It is just a big money grab for crooked Muslim lawyers!
Posted by: The Resistance at March 23, 2007 3:44 PM
As CAIR threatens to make public the names of the John Does, who would be seen many Jihadis as ‘making mischief’, they are making a physical threat against the defendant.
[5.33] The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His apostle and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement.
It really is legal terrorism. Violence is a felony (racketeering activity) and the threat of it is subject to prosecution under RICO statutes.
It shall be unlawful for any person through a pattern of racketeering activity or through collection of an unlawful debt to acquire or maintain, directly or indirectly, any interest in or control of any enterprise which is engaged in, or the activities of which affect, interstate or foreign commerce.
Plaintiffs can recover civil damages under RICO. Death and disfigurement threats should be worth ten million plus legal expenses.
at March 23, 2007 4:56 PM
Legal terrorism...The IRS comes to mind. I was dragged into family court 19 times in two years, by a vindictive woman who could not win any rulings but she kept trying anyway...is that legal terrorism? Maybe not, but it is a lot like throwing grenades into the enemies camp. This is what the CAIR imams are doing. One litigation after another, is firing legal bullets. The Imams and CAIR need to have the weapon/tactic of legal terrorism taken away from them. Throw the case out...discredit CAIR. Send those Imams packin. Get thier fat ears aflappin and those fat knees apumpin. Get out, scram, beat it. Go back to whatever hot, squalid, Islamic Paradise country you came from, and while you are at it, take the Ummah with you...May Allah speed your journey. Good Bye...Bon Voyage...see ya...adios...
Posted by: duh_swami at March 23, 2007 5:06 PM
I have a feeling CAIR is about to be made an ass of. Again.
at March 23, 2007 5:10 PM
Note that the Beckett Fund also represented Muslims in Wayne NJ when the township tried to prevent construction of a Mosque. See their web site for the story.
Something tells me the next time we hear about the Beckett fund they will most likely be on a side we would not like to see them on.
Posted by: Al E. Baba at March 23, 2007 8:10 PM
From above, I agree you cannot bankrupt Saudi Arabia but Im sure you could bankrupt CAIR if you disallow funding from Arabia and other terror supporting entities and sue them into the ground. The problem is there are too many liberal like idiots who would oppose a move against the US trying to secure itself by cutting off CAIR funding from the Saudis. The best bet is to have CIA or FBI catch them doing them something illegal and shutting their evil worshipping asses down. Again there are too many useful idiots that would fight the US (and that hate their own country) every step of the way.
Posted by: THE ALLIES SHALL WIN at March 24, 2007 10:38 AM
out of topic: what is WRONG with Al Gore? down there in the US. I thought we here in canada had loonie leftwingers but that guy takes the cake! The world is poised for nuclear holocaust a la Iran, terrorist are constantly killing people the world over in the name of allah, and trying to scare people in the West even through lawsuits and this guy wont shut up about global whatthename or something? eeeesh. of course people like Gore never mention that the ozone hole popular back in the early 90s is GONe now naturally sealed up. Nor is he willing to lower the energy eating costs of his home. Anyway enough about him the islamic terror threat is the REAL issue of importance of today...
Posted by: THE ALLIES SHALL WIN at March 24, 2007 10:45 AM
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty is, from a perusal of its website, a relatively small organisation with, apparently, less than twenty non-clerical full-time staff.
It is noticeable that it has represented some organisations which would not be universally recognised as religions, and what passengers or witnesses of an airline dispute have to do with its stated function is hard to fathom.
I would be interested to know more about its creation, its funding and its personnel, and also about its reputation in legal circles in the USA.
I am cynical about its participation in this particular dispute, but all will come out into the open some day.
at March 24, 2007 9:59 PM
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