Iraqi activist forced to change t-shirt with Arabic peace slogan
{{date|August 30, 2006}}

Raed Jarrar, an [[w:Iraq|Iraqi]] peace activist who lives in the [[w:United States|United States]], was forced to change his T-Shirt, which bore an Arabic slogan, because it was found "offensive".

The incident took place in JFK airport in New York. The activist Jarrar reported in his blog ''RaedInTheMiddle'' that he had checked-in his bags and was issued a boarding pass. After waiting near the gate to board his [[w:JetBlue Airways|jetBlue airlines]] flight, and after having to gone through a secondary search, two officials approached him.

"People are feeling offended because of your t-shirt," Raed reported that one of the men said to him. The writings on the T-Shirt said in both Arabic and English: "We will not be silent". 

Raed asked why this has offended anyone, and insisted his right to freedom of expression was violated.

According to Jarrar, one of the inspectors said, "You can't wear a T-shirt with Arabic script and come to an airport. It is like wearing a t-shirt that reads 'I am a robber' and going to a bank". The airport official, unable to read Arabic, was unyielding to protests by Jarrar that the English language version of the Arabic was accurate, and suggested he wear the shirt inside out. 

"Many people called and complained about your t-shirt. Jetblue customers were calling before you reached the checkpoint, and customers called when you were waiting here in the boarding area", Jarrar was told after he complained.
  
One employee from JetBlue offered to buy Jarrar a T-shirt to replace the one he was wearing, since the activist had none other after his bags were checked. Refusing at first, he agreed to wear one with "New York" written on it. 

The officer on the scene commented that it need not have gone from one extreme to the other: wearing a T-Shirt with an Arabic peace slogan on it, to wearing one with 'New York'. There is no reason to hate New York if you are an Arab speaking peace activist, according to Jarrar.

"I feel very sad that my personal freedom was taken away like this. I grew up under authoritarian governments in the Middle East, and one of the reasons I chose to move to the U.S. was that I don't want an officer to make me change my t-shirt. I will pursue this incident today through a constitutional rights organization, and I am sure we will meet soon," Raed said.

He was issued another boarding pass, with a different seat at the back of the plane.

JetBlue said it was investigating the incident but a spokeswoman said: "We're not clear exactly what happened." The spokeswoman also said the airline does not forbid Arabic T-shirts, but that it does take into account the concerns of its passengers. 

The [[w:American-Arab Anti-discrimination Committee|American-Arab Anti-discrimination Committee]] said the [[w:United States Department of Transportation|US Transportation Department]] and the [[w:Transportation Security Administration|Transportation Security Administration]] were also investigating the incident after the committee lodged complaints on behalf of Jarrar. 

"We Will Not Be Silent" is a slogan adopted by opponents of the war in Iraq and other conflicts in the Middle East.

It is said to derive from the [[w:White Rose|White Rose]] dissident group which opposed Nazi rule in Germany.

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5297822.stm
|title=Arabic T-shirt sparks airport row
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=August 30, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Iraqi-made-to-change-shirt-before-flight/2006/08/30/1156816934493.html
|title=Iraqi made to change shirt before flight
|author=
|pub= The Sydney Morning Herald
|date=August 30, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=1279702006
|title=Iraqi says forced to change T-Shirt
|author=
|pub=The Scotsman
|date=August 30, 2006}} 

*{{source|url=http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/63716
|title=T-Shirt Inscription Keeps Iraqi Man From Boarding Flight
|author=
|pub=WNYC
|date=August 30, 2006}}

==External links==
*[http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com/2006/08/back-from-mideast.html RaedInTheMiddle] 
*[http://www.parkerstudio.com/AAW/notsilentstories.html Images of T-shirts like the one worn by Raed].

{{publish}}
{{Archive-unreviewed}}
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:New York]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:New York, New York]]
[[Category:John F. Kennedy International Airport]]
Raed Jarrar, an Iraqi peace activist who lives in the United States, was forced to change his T-Shirt, which bore an Arabic slogan, because it was found "offensive".

The incident took place in JFK airport in New York. The activist Jarrar reported in his blog RaedInTheMiddle that he had checked-in his bags and was issued a boarding pass. After waiting near the gate to board his jetBlue airlines flight, and after having to gone through a secondary search, two officials approached him.

"People are feeling offended because of your t-shirt," Raed reported that one of the men said to him. The writings on the T-Shirt said in both Arabic and English: "We will not be silent". 

Raed asked why this has offended anyone, and insisted his right to freedom of expression was violated.

According to Jarrar, one of the inspectors said, "You can't wear a T-shirt with Arabic script and come to an airport. It is like wearing a t-shirt that reads 'I am a robber' and going to a bank". The airport official, unable to read Arabic, was unyielding to protests by Jarrar that the English language version of the Arabic was accurate, and suggested he wear the shirt inside out. 

"Many people called and complained about your t-shirt. Jetblue customers were calling before you reached the checkpoint, and customers called when you were waiting here in the boarding area", Jarrar was told after he complained.
  
One employee from JetBlue offered to buy Jarrar a T-shirt to replace the one he was wearing, since the activist had none other after his bags were checked. Refusing at first, he agreed to wear one with "New York" written on it. 

The officer on the scene commented that it need not have gone from one extreme to the other: wearing a T-Shirt with an Arabic peace slogan on it, to wearing one with 'New York'. There is no reason to hate New York if you are an Arab speaking peace activist, according to Jarrar.

"I feel very sad that my personal freedom was taken away like this. I grew up under authoritarian governments in the Middle East, and one of the reasons I chose to move to the U.S. was that I don't want an officer to make me change my t-shirt. I will pursue this incident today through a constitutional rights organization, and I am sure we will meet soon," Raed said.

He was issued another boarding pass, with a different seat at the back of the plane.

JetBlue said it was investigating the incident but a spokeswoman said: "We're not clear exactly what happened." The spokeswoman also said the airline does not forbid Arabic T-shirts, but that it does take into account the concerns of its passengers. 

The American-Arab Anti-discrimination Committee said the US Transportation Department and the Transportation Security Administration were also investigating the incident after the committee lodged complaints on behalf of Jarrar. 

"We Will Not Be Silent" is a slogan adopted by opponents of the war in Iraq and other conflicts in the Middle East.

It is said to derive from the White Rose dissident group which opposed Nazi rule in Germany.

*

* 

*
North America United States New York Middle East Politics and conflicts New York, New York John F. Kennedy International Airport