Ever since the story on the missing Somali men surfaced, Somalis have been under intense scrutiny at airports, borders, and even in the most polite of company. Ali Mohamed Ally, a young Minneapolis native was scheduled to depart Columbus, Ohio at 7:20 on Saturday, February 21st. He arrived at least two hours earlier at the airport and cleared his bags with TSA. Despite his timely preparation, he quickly learned he wasn’t free from scrutiny.
While making small talk with another person of African decent, Ally says he first received unwelcoming and threatening stares from TSA agents. The agents proceeded to walk up and down their area, and one even sat behind the two men and looked over their shoulder to observe the other man’s computer screen. According to Ally’s testimony, this type of demeaning activity continued for another hour and a half.
When the time for booking the flight came, Ally says he was asked to step aside by TSA agents. They began an extensive questioning session, specifically asking questions related to the “war on terror” and various conflicts tied to this effort. According to Ally, they inquired about his place of birth, whether or not he is Muslim, how often he attends the mosque, which mosque he frequents, what Muslim institutions does he belong to, the last time he visited Somalia, and a slew of other questions. They even asked some far fetched questions, such as, if he has ever been to Afghanistan or Iraq.
Ally attributes the initial stares and the questioning to racial profiling, and even filed a formal complaint with the Office of Transportation Security Administration. The office has a policy against discrimination, intending to honor the civil rights of passengers. According to their website, “discrimination includes treating someone differently or less favorably because of a person's race, national origin, age, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, as compared to someone else under similar circumstances.” In the Ally case, TSA agents specifically asked questions that would reveal his national origin, religion, and the extent of his religiosity. The behavior from earlier that morning also suggests that profiling may have a strong role in this incident.
After the search and questioning, Ally announced to his fellow passengers that he, a US citizen, was a victim of racial profiling at the hands of TSA agents who treated him unfairly. He said he would file a complaint and asked for support. Ally says he was well received by the other passengers, and that several individuals came to rally on his behalf.
While many Somalis have experienced some level of hostility, or know friends and family who have experienced such events at airports, few take their experiences beyond personal anger. What makes this incident unique is the fact that Ally is actively demanding justice. He reached out to other passengers, filed a complaint, and contacted media. Ally says he wants to use this experience as an advocacy tool – hoping to share this story far and wide and inspire other Somalis to demand more.
ramla@hiiraan.com
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