It just got a bit colder for Muslims who intend to travel to the US from all over the world including India and especially the Arab countries. The US head of civil rights for the US Department of Homeland Security is urging Muslim air travelers to register with the federal government before flying.



The reason given is - ‘To reduce the chances they might be stopped at an airport because their name is on or similar to names on an anti-terrorism watch list and eliminate the chance that a Muslim traveler will be singled out for closer scrutiny before or after flying, but the department wants to improve its relations with Muslims and Arab-Americans‘.



Though this might be viewed as a good suggestion to the Muslims to avoid being harassed as they were (along with all brown travelers) following the 911 terror attacks in the US, it is just another discrimination to this community that seems will be practiced for ever now.



A large number of Muslims from India visit the US every year and a number manifold that are being denied visas especially the ones falling between 17-50 years.



Incidentally, prominent Indian Muslim businessman, Azim Hasan Premji, who heads WIPRO was being harassed twice with long delays and searches in airports when he visited there a few years back. Not only that, the then Indian Defence Minister George Fernandez was strip-searched twice. He was not only holding a diplomat visa then, but a Christian and over 70 years old.



Pan-Islamic terrorism has brought nothing but misery to fellow Muslims who are increasingly being viewed suspiciously by non-Islamic nations worldwide. This is what the likes of Osama followers achieved for their fellow believers.



News : Hindustan Times