MI Muslim pilgrims offered apology, compensation by NW

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Press Release
Source: Council on American-Islamic Relations
MI Muslim Pilgrims Offered Apology, Compensation by NW Airlines
Wednesday January 17, 4:45 pm ET

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) announced today that Northwest Airlines is offering an apology and limited financial compensation to a group of 40 American Muslim pilgrims who were allegedly denied passage on a January 7th flight returning to Michigan.

The pilgrims say they were denied boarding on a Northwest Airlines flight from Germany to Detroit while returning from the recently-concluded annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. Northwest Airlines says the Muslim travelers arrived too late to make the connecting flight.

That claim has been refuted by the pilgrims who say they arrived at the gate with time to spare and that they were mistreated by airline representatives.

CAIR-MI held a news conference in Dearborn, Mich., on Tuesday to demand an investigation of the incident. Today, an official of Northwest Airlines told CAIR that the Muslim travelers would receive an apology for the inconvenience they suffered and would be compensated for any extra flight or hotel costs they incurred.

SEE: Northwest Apologizes, Vows to Reimburse Muslims Barred from Flight (Detroit News) http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070117/UPDATE/701170462

SEE ALSO: CAIR-MI to Call for Probe Into NW Airline's Treatment of Hajjis http://cair.com/default.asp?Page=articleView&id=2517&theType=NR

"We welcome Northwest Airlines' apology and offer of limited compensation as a positive step toward addressing the concerns of the Muslim passengers," said CAIR-Michigan Executive Director Dawud Walid. Walid also said some of the travelers are considering legal action against the airline.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 32 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.