At least they weren't at a U.S. public school...or a French public school...
From Reuters/Yahoo:
While at a New York Giants against New Orleans Saints game at Giants Stadium on September 19, the [five] New Jersey residents were removed from their seats and questioned by FBI agents after other fans saw them bow to the ground as part of the five-daily Muslim prayers.
"As Muslims, we just have to pray when it's time to pray," Sami Shaban told a news conference in New York on Wednesday. "We thought nothing of it. I pray in malls, I pray everywhere."
The 27-year-old law school student said he and his friends were questioned for about 25 minutes, missing part of the second half of the game....
The FBI said the men were questioned because they congregated near an air duct at the stadium, not because they were praying. But the men dismissed that explanation.
"Let's be real here, if anybody with my description even scratches their ear, people get nervous," said Mostafa Khalifa, 27, who, like Shaban, wears a long beard and was among those detained. "I did nothing wrong, I should not change."
He pointed out that football players often huddle and pray on the sideline as a teammate attempts a game-winning kick in the waning seconds of a game....
"I've been a Giants fan since I was like six years old," [Shaban] said. "I don't want it to be that any time a Muslim goes to a Giants game they can't enjoy the game ... because of the length of our beard or the way that we are."
Comments