Muslim Woman Sues Southwest Airlines
A Muslim woman is suing Southwest Airlines after being escorted off of a flight from San Diego's Lindbergh Field to San Jose in March.
Iraum Abbasi was wearing a hijab, the Islamic head scarf, while on the flight. The flight attendent became concerned when she thought she over heard the San Diego woman on her cellphone saying, "It's a go." Transportation Security Administration then escorted Abbasi off of the plane.
Abbasi later told someone she had said, "I have to go."
Living in the U.S. for a decade, Abbasi is a U.S. citizen and emigrated from Pakistan. She was traveling to her alma mater San Jose State.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations-California filed the lawsuit on her behalf. San Diego civil liberties attorney James McElroy is charging Southwest Airlines with discrimination.
Three days after the incident, Southwest Airlines apologized to Abbasi and gave her a travel voucher.
