Dr Bilal Rana, a Houston-based anesthesiologist, was detained by the FBI after a flight from Newark to Hobby Airport in Houston on November 15. His fault? Passengers became scared because of his appearance – he was wearing a Muslim garb –and reported him to the flight crew, probably thinking he was a terrorist.
Well, it turned out that Dr Rana was the president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association – a group with 70 chapters and more than 5,000 members that combats Muslim radicalization in America. He also volunteered with the Houston Police Academy, lectured at the Department of Homeland Security’s TSA courses, was awarded the Presidential Service Award in 2009 by President Barack Obama, and addressed the United Nations in New York on the topic of Muslim radicalization, in 2014.
He told ABC News:
“It was embarrassing, very embarrassing that I could be assumed to be that type of person. It hurts, but I don’t profess to be a victim. I understand law enforcement has to do their job and I respect and support them. I always have.”
A victim of racial profiling in his own country, Dr Rana wrote a moving piece for TIME:
To those who saw me as a threat: I hope you never know what it feels like to have a group of police officers single you out. I hope you never know what it is like to be frisked while standing in front of a plane full of passengers. I hope you never suffer the embarrassment of watching mothers hold their children tightly as you walk by them.
I hope you never feel the humiliation of having your belongings confiscated out of your hands, or being surrounded by cops who refer to you as “the subject” on their walkie talkies. I hope you never have to, for the first time in your life, sit in the back of a police car.
I hope you get a chance to explain who you are before you are judged. I’m not your enemy. I’m your biggest ally…
I’m a 36-years-old doctor, husband for 13 years, and father of five. I was raised in Texas, and I’ve lived here nearly my entire life… I’m a U.S. citizen…
When I finally got home that night, my kids wanted to know why I was so late. They’re young, so I honestly don’t know how to explain to them why I was detained and interrogated. I now realize that one of my biggest responsibilities as a father is to stress to my children that being Muslim is a source of pride, and never of shame. I realize that I will have to tell them that most strangers are inherently good, but if they hurt you, perhaps it’s out of ignorance rather than malice.
‘Home of the Brave’? What a fecking joke.
“American Muslim doctor on Houston flight detained b/c he looks wrong” https://t.co/8Sd7cNMkyu— Pitt Griffin (@pittgriffin) December 9, 2015
Even as he shared his horrific experience in the open letter, he didn’t want to turn the incident into a story of victimization; instead he said he was more determined than ever to help “bridge this gulf between Muslims and non-Muslims.”
“I totally understand the need to respectfully and carefully profile, but it needs to be done in a manner that preserves the dignity of those being profiled and surveiled. Muslims must remain compassionate and understanding and offer every bit of cooperation to authorities. If someone harasses you, be the better American in that situation.”
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looks like a duck ,ya wont know till ya check,fifo
I’m a white, older American Christian and I pray with and for my Muslim neighbors on a weekly basis. I have to say that they are so much more patient and understanding than most of WASP friends or I would be, if we were judged and profiled. We have been racially profiling in the African American community for generations and all it has done is to create distrust, dislike, and valid anger. Prejudice is still prejudice not matter whether you call it security or not. Honey on dog poo is still dog poo. What this kind man said is absolutely true. Be friendly with your Muslim neighbors and treat them as you would like to be treated. You may find that they are people who enrich your life and your kindness will be the best defense against radicalization.
Some of the American try to act like God, but they are very far from of the like of it
Wow, don’t police have smartphones so they could check out this man’s identity and work quickly and quietly? Since when do trouble makers make themselves conspicuous? After 9/11, my US citizen son (olive complexion, curly brown hair, brown eyes), Principal’s Award (character) recipient and high school honor student, cut his hair and shaved off his beard because he was afraid strangers would harass him for “looking wrong.” In my opinion, we need to chill out and actually get to know people instead of being reactionary fools. Stop listening to government propaganda and targeting anyone unlike ourselves.