Initially as a regular flight for Tahera Ahmad, representatives of the Muslim community at Northwestern University, Chicago, USA. The veiled woman sitting calm in United Airlines flight at an altitude of 30,000 feet above the ground. However, Tahera tranquility disturbed by the incident that offending her convictions, she has accused United of "Islamophobia" after an encounter with a flight attendant Friday that left her in tears.
Ahmad wrote in a Facebook post that she asked for an unopened can of Diet Coke during beverage service on her flight. When she was brought an open can, she requested a new beverage for sanitary reasons but was told, "I'm sorry I just can't give you an unopened can so no diet coke for you."
A man sitting near her was later brought an unopened beer, and Ahmad, who wears a hijab in her Facebook profile photo, asked the flight attendant again why she wasn't able to have a similar can.
"She said, 'We are unauthorized to give unopened cans to people because they may use it as a WEAPON on the plane,'" Ahmad wrote.
Ahmed also wrote that after the encounter, she asked her fellow passengers if the experience was discriminatory, but no one responded aside from one man who said, "You Moslem, you need to shut the f** up ... yes you know you would use it as a WEAPON so shut the f**k up."
Ahmad's story has quickly spread on social media, with some people adopting the hashtag #UnitedForTahera, calling for a boycott of the airline. Despite the statement from the airline, Ahmed wrote on Twitter that she has yet to receive a "sincere apology" from United and is "disappointed at [the] dismissal."
Ahmad told the Chicago Sun-Times she's been targeted because of her hijab before. She said she's been spat on and had the covering ripped off, but the airplane incident was particularly troubling because she was “publicly targeted as a threat to people.”
Ms Ahmad's account last night of her experience has been shared by thousands of people on Facebook and Twitter.
They've used the hashtag #UnitedForTahera, accused the airline of Islamophobia and racism at 30,000ft and told others to boycott it.
Mohammad Alauddin wrote: "This is disrespectful. We are Muslims, We aren't terrorists. Everybody should be #unitedfortahera".
Zohal Alizai wrote: "Never going to book a flight from united airlines again #unitedfortahera".
Sagal Ashour added: "Glad I'm using British airways to travel to New York otherwise I would change my ticket. Unacceptable treatment of Muslims #unitedfortahera".
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