United Airlines sparked widespread controversy after asking a Palestinian-American passenger to change his shirt, which bore the slogan “Bombing children is not self-defense,” and threatening to prevent him from traveling.
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Human rights organizations described the incident as “a new episode of censorship targeting expressions of support for Palestinian rights.”
Passenger Sam Saadeh, a resident of New Jersey, reported that he was en route from Atlanta to Newark Liberty Airport on June 4 when a flight attendant approached him shortly after he boarded the plane. Saadeh was wearing a black shirt with the words “Bombing children is not self-defense” written on it in white.
Speaking to CBS, Saada said he was completely surprised when a supervisor told him that the flight attendant considered his shirt “offensive” and gave him two options: “Either change your shirt or don’t board the flight.”
Saada, who eventually had to change his shirt to continue his journey, said he received no clear answer as to why the message was deemed “offensive,” even after the plane landed and he spoke with airline representatives. He was quoted as saying to one of the representatives, “Do you think children shouldn’t be bombed, or what? What exactly is offensive to you?”
United’s passenger transport contract grants the airline the right to refuse service to passengers “who are not dressed appropriately, or whose clothing is obscene, vulgar, or offensive.” However, the policy does not precisely define what constitutes “offensive,” raising questions about its selective application.
In response to the incident, United Airlines said in a statement to Fox News: “The passenger traveled on schedule after changing his shirt. That’s all we have to say on the matter.” The company offered no further explanation as to why the shirt was deemed “offensive,” while the shirt’s manufacturer, “Wear Peace,” asserted that the message “does not incite violence, threaten anyone, or suggest that the wearer intends to harm others.”
The National Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the incident, calling it “yet another example of censorship targeting even the simplest and most vulnerable expressions of solidarity with Palestinian human rights,” and called on the company to apologize to Saada and ensure that such incidents do not happen again.
For his part, Saada confirmed that he had contacted lawyers and filed a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation, expressing his determination to continue wearing the shirt. He said, “My message is very simple—I believe that bombing children is wrong, whether they are Palestinian or from the coastal city of Mobile, Alabama.”
Source: RT + Agencies
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