Passengers defended in imams' airline suit

WASHINGTON, March 31 (UPI) -- Legal activists are rallying around passengers who were on a U.S. airline flight and could be sued over the removal of six Muslim imams from the plane.

The imams had been kicked off the flight in Minneapolis for suspicious behavior and are now suing US Airways and "John Doe" passengers for allegedly making false reports "with the intent to discriminate against them."

The incident caused a stir aboard the flight since the Muslim clerics reportedly had been making a scene in the terminal and on the plane; however, their attorney contends they had only been performing prayers and were singled out because of their religion by passengers who alerted the flight crew.

The Washington Times said a number of lawyers have offered to defend pro bone any passengers dragged into court. The public interest law firm Becket Fund for Religious Liberty said the lawsuit could chill the public's willingness to report suspicious behavior on airplanes to the authorities.

The Times said critics of the lawsuit contend that the freedom to practice one's religion any time or any place is not absolute when it comes to compelling government interests such as preventing terrorism.