Staff Reports
Two Palestinian-American men have thrown themselves into a legal quagmire, claiming they were unjustly punished for their vocal pro-Palestinian activism by getting placed on the notorious No Fly List. Osama Abu Irshaid and Mustafa Zeidan, both naturalized citizens, filed a lawsuit alleging that their recent travel woes are directly linked to their passionate protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Until recently, their flights had been smooth sailing, but it seems calling for an end to what they term “genocide” has left them with more than just unwanted turbulence.
The saga begins with Mr. Abu Irshaid, who attempted to hop on a plane to Qatar and found himself subjected to an interrogation that would make any TSA agent proud. Not only did he face invasive questions and the full-body pat-down treatment, but upon arriving back in the U.S., federal agents were waiting to snag his phone and grill him about his affiliation with the group American Muslims for Palestine. Apparently, a little advocacy for a beleaguered group has led to an overzealous entrance into the realm of national security threats. One has to wonder—are mere words now enough to ground a man?
Our client Ahmad Chebli has been on the No Fly List for two years, despite the US government refusing to give him their reason for putting him on it or a hearing to clear his name.
This is a violation of due process.
We’re suing. https://t.co/J7oRKboDlR
— ACLU (@ACLU) April 12, 2021
Then there’s Mr. Zeidan, who claims he was entirely barred from boarding a flight from Los Angeles to Jordan. After submitting an inquiry on the bizarre situation, he learned he was on the No Fly List due to allegations of being a “threat to civil aviation or national security.” This is what happens when peaceful protests get mistaken for something more sinister. Perhaps next time, these gentlemen should reconsider their choice of words—beware of speaking too loudly about sensitive issues, lest they find themselves in the government’s crosshairs.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has jumped into the fray, filing this suit purportedly to challenge the No Fly List’s operations. Of course, CAIR has made it their mission to unveil the veil of secrecy surrounding the list, which has become as opaque as a foggy day in San Francisco since its inception post-9/11. Their argument seems to hinge on a belief that the government is using this list as a tool of punishment rather than a legitimate security measure. With leaked documents suggesting nearly all individuals on the list are Muslims, can one really be blamed for raising eyebrows about the criteria being used?
To add fuel to the fire, the lawsuit goes after figures as high up as Attorney General Merrick Garland, showcasing just how deep they expect their grievance to stretch within the Biden administration. In a twist of irony, while they are concerned about government overreach, they seem rather comfortable reaching deep into the government’s wallet. They seek to have their names scrubbed from the list and new limits imposed on future listings and the accompanying treatment.
Abu Irshaid’s history with the No Fly List reads like a Hollywood thriller script—being listed from 2010 to 2017 only to find himself back on it again after resuming his pro-Palestinian positions. It’s a dramatic descent from activist to accidental ‘threat’ when the only difference seemed to be his outspoken advocacy. One must ponder: is there a hidden agenda lurking beneath the surface, or is this merely a case of bad luck and increasingly inquisitive officials? Whatever the truth, it seems that in today’s climate, simply raising your voice could land you on a watchlist, and that’s a plot twist no one saw coming in the land of the free.
