You've Got To Be Kidding Deux

I am searching my mind to think of any aircraft related incident of terrorism not committed by Muslim terrorists over the past two decades. I am not coming up with any, though I am sure there has been the occasional outlier.

At any rate, we have gone from very lax procedures at airports on Sept. 10, 2001, to the point where we now have to use full body scans to detect some of the more egregious attempts by radical Islamists to hide explosives and weapons about their body, including their "private parts." Except . . .

A group of Muslim scholars says it supports airline safety, but it is "deeply concerned" about the use of airport scanners that show nude images of the human body.

“The Fiqh Council of North America (FCNA) emphasizes that a general and public use of such scanners is against the teachings of Islam, natural law and all religions and cultures that stand for decency and modesty,” the group said in a Feb. 10 statement posted at Islam Online.

"It is a violation of clear Islamic teachings that men or women be seen naked by other men and women," FCNA explained. The group noted that Islam emphasizes modesty, considering it part of the faith. "The Qur'an has commanded the believers, both men and women, to cover their private parts" and to be modest in their dress.

While exceptions can be made in cases of "extreme necessity," FCNA indicated that passenger body scans do not rise to that level . . .

FCNA is asking for changes in scanner software so the machines will produce only body outlines. In the meantime, the group says Muslim travelers should choose pat-down searches over scanner images – in cases where searches are necessary.

Does the Koran say anything about hiding explosives in one's "private parts?" If not, then you my Fiqh Council friend can go fiqh off (hah - hat tip to Dafydd at Big Lizards for that one).

Muslims bear full responsibility for the need to have full body scans that will invade the privacy of each and every one of us. And this Muslim Council has the gall to complain on behalf of Muslims. This is mind numbing - but hardly unexpected. As to pat downs, if the Fiqh Council considers showing "private parts" a violation of privacy, they surely dont expect to have those private parts touched as a part of a pat down. Yet anything less would not find a bomber packing PETN next to their privates. Sorry about that, but for my money, if Muslims refuse to go through a full body scan, nothing less than a strip and cavity search would suffice.

At this point in the game, my concern for Muslim sensibilities on issues relating to security is well into negative numbers. The Koran may command that Muslims be modest, it does not command that they have a right to board an airplane. If you are Muslim and do not want to be scanned, fine, don't fly. That sounds like a perfectly reasonable accommodation to me.

By the way, lest there be any doubt about who it is that is complaining in this instance, the Fiqh Council of North America is an arm of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is an organization dedicated to the overthrow of our government and the implementation of Sharia law throughout the world. Al Qaeda grew out of the Brotherhood, as have countless other radical offshoots. The only difference between al Qaeda and the Brotherhood is in the means by which the same ends are sought. So, go pound sand indeed.