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ABSTRACT: Muslim Americans have been treated with prejudice, discrimination and bias in multiple incidents after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 (9/11). While all of the 9/11 terrorists were identified as Muslims, collateral damage in the aftermath resulted in innocent and wholly blameless Muslim Americans being swept up in the prejudicial discriminatory profiling incidents at airports. Muslim Americans have been collectively accused of the 9/11 attacks that were orchestrated by individuals who were fanatical Muslims; very few of whom would be considered in that category. Since 9/11, as the nation has mourned the loss of so many Americans in the attack, they have been joined by the thoughts and prayers from the vast majority of Muslim Americans who have suffered equally, if not more so. There were Muslims who lost their lives in the attack on the Twin Towers, yet the Muslim American community has been collectively blamed as a coconspirator for the terrorist attack. Our research examines the city of Houstons Muslim American communitys opinions regarding the support for racial profiling at airports after 9/11. Data were gathered through surveys administered at local mosques in the city. Surprisingly, there was robust support for racial profiling at airports by most Muslim Americans we surveyed.
Keywords: racial profiling, airline, terrorism, 9/11, Muslim
INTRODUCTION
Subject profiling encompasses those who fall into the spectrum of a certain race, gender, religion, group and/or a particular affiliation. Commonly, one may witness those who may appear to be of a certain race or religion, and who are subject to more scrutiny and profiling than others. In addition, it may include economically challenged individuals, African Americans, Arabs, Caucasians, Atheists and Muslims. According to Amnesty International, almost 87 million Americans are targeted and profiled during their life-time, including those who choose the airline industry for travel (Amnesty International 2006).
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ON AIRPORT SECURITY
Airport security is not something new or revolutionary. In 1930, the Pan American mail plane was seized by Peruvian revolutionaries (Trento and Trento 2006). In the 1950s, other types of attacks took place against airlines; for example, Jack Graham placed a bomb in his mothers suitcase (Trento and Trento 2006). This particular terrorist attack resulted in the death of his mother and 43 other passengers. The FBI...