In
Defense of the Constitution
News & Analysis
016/04
April 14, 2004
- CAIR Defends
Man Testing Security Procedures
CAIR Defends Man
Testing Security Procedures
On April 12, 2004, the
Star-Telegram reported the conviction
of a man who was testing the security system at Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport. According to
the paper, Fazal Karim,
a Pakistani national in the United States Illegally, attempted to smuggle
32 double-edged razor blades tucked in a coiled belt carried inside a cardboard
box in carry-on luggage. (Karim
is a Canadian citizen who was an illegal alien at the time of his arrest).
Just what did Karim do that attracted the attention of screeners?
1. He lied about his immigration
status. (Illegal alien)
2. He placed his carry-on
luggage on the conveyor belt; then walked away from it to a non-adjacent
passenger screening device.
3. Told screeners the blades:
a. For shaving the bottom of his full beard. (Note: He had blades, no handles).
b. Said the blades were for a friend in
c. Stated he didn’t know the blades were in the luggage.
And
the response of the Council on American-Islamic Relations?
According to the Star-Telegram,
“A spokesman
for the Council on American-Islamic Relations said in an earlier interview
that Karim’s prosecution fit a pattern of singling out travelers from predominantly
Muslim nations after the 9-11 terrorist attacks.”
Once again, CAIR attempts
to turn this into another example of profiling Muslims, despite there being
absolutely no evidence that the screeners acted against
Karim because of his religious beliefs.
Karim attempted to carry 32 double-edged razor blades onto an
aircraft. His explanations were disingenuous and he
was acting suspicious. CAIR disparages law enforcement
again, when it implies that good security work is simply a case of profiling.
Karim’s defense attorney,
Marlo Cadeddu had
this to say:
“I don’t
believe the government would have taken the position that it took if Mr.
Karim were not a Muslim.”
Cadeddu can make all the unreasonable statements he cares too, but
the simple fact remains that he has not told anyone how the screeners knew
that Karim is a Muslim.
In any case, Karim has five years to do in the prison system and
we won’t have to worry about him, or his razor blades, any time soon. He is to be deported following completion of his sentence.
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