Bearded? Check. Wearing skullcap? Check. Praying? Check.

[Theophylact]

Must be a terrorist:

Jewish man removed from airplane for praying

Some fellow passengers are questioning why an Orthodox Jewish man was removed from an Air Canada Jazz flight in Montreal last week for praying.

The man was a passenger on a Sept. 1 flight from Montreal to New York City when the incident happened.

The airplane was heading toward the runway at the Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport when eyewitnesses said the Orthodox man began to pray.

"He was clearly a Hasidic Jew," said Yves Faguy, a passenger seated nearby. "He had some sort of cover over his head. He was reading from a book.

"He wasn't exactly praying out loud but he was lurching back and forth," Faguy added.

The action didn't seem to bother anyone, Faguy said, but a flight attendant approached the man and told him his praying was making other passengers nervous.

"The attendant actually recognized out loud that he wasn't a Muslim and that she was sorry for the situation but they had to ask him to leave," Faguy said.

The man, who spoke neither English nor French, was escorted off the airplane.

Air Canada Jazz termed the situation "delicate," but says it received more than one complaint about the man's behaviour.

The crew had to act in the interest of the majority of passengers, said Jazz spokeswoman Manon Stewart.

"The passenger did not speak English or French, so we really had no choice but to return to the gate to secure a translator," she said.

The airline is not saying if the man was told he was not allowed to pray, but a spokesperson said the man was back on board the next flight to New York.

Jewish leaders in Montreal criticized the move as insensitive, saying the flight attendants should have explained to the other passengers that the man was simply praying and doing no harm.

Hasidic Rabbi Ronny Fine said he often prays on airplanes, but typically only gets curious stares.

"If it's something that you're praying in your own seat and not taking over the whole plane, I don't think it should be a problem," said Fine.

The Jewish group B'nai Brith Canada has offered to help give Air Canada crews sensitivity training.

Oopsie.

(Incidentally, that "lurching back and forth" while praying is called "davenning". And I'm pretty sure it wasn't a skullcap, but rather a fedora or perhaps one of these, but then the hed wouldn't have been as funny.)

[Epidemic]

davenning in an enclosed space with out deoderant may well be a terrorist act

I was tortured all the way home from germany in a situation like that.

[Theophylact]

Originally Posted by Epidemic

I was tortured all the way home from germany in a situation like that.

Did they extract any useful information from you?

[Dethrattle]

hope not ... got enuff info flying around already.

but the smell-o-pits is pretty good means of "getting you to talk"

[The Real Bingo]

Glad it happened in Canada.

[Epidemic]

Originally Posted by Theophylact

Did they extract any useful information from you?

they got my name and they used "rank" to get my serial number.

[Amr]

"The attendant actually recognized out loud that he wasn't a Muslim and that she was sorry for the situation but they had to ask him to leave," Faguy said.

In other words if he had been a Muslim there would be a mean accusatory look and no apology, plus no questioning by 'fellow passengers'.

But nevertheless, sad that he was thrown off the flight.

[Theophylact]

Originally Posted by Amr

In other words if he had been a Muslim there would be a mean accusatory look and no apology, plus no questioning by 'fellow passengers'.

Exactly.

It's not just the Air Canada crews that need sensitivity training.

[MegalosSkylaki]

If you are going to have a policy of questioning individuals whose behaviour is "unusual" (at least in the context of an airplane cabin) or draws exceptional attention to himself by such behavious --then it should be applied in an even-handed manner.

There are many religions that engage in behaviours that in the cultural or religious context are wholly understandable, but seem odd or erratic in the context of an airplane cabin.

I often must get up and lean against a wall or wall around as sitting elicits considerble pain. I usually explain my situation in advance to flight attendent to avoid awkward situations, and my luggage is carried aboard as I'm listed as needing a wheelchair at the airport. Yet, I would fully expect that if over/under medication caused seemingly erratic behaviour in a plane cabin, to draw attention and perhaps have problems.

Personally I would think it unfair if they targeted moslems for "odd" behaviour, yet gave a hasidic jew a pass for the same. And you noted that he was unable to explain his behavour. Moreover, impersonations are not all that difficult, and the anxiety of passangers is quite socially contagious.

Behavioural profiling is far to be preferred to ethnic or racial profiling.

MegalosSkylaki

[willy_ph]

Originally Posted by The Real Bingo

Glad it happened in Canada.

Mind to explaining your statement?