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| Muslim woman Tahera Ahmed claims she was refused unopened Diet Coke on United Airline flight because it could be used as a 'weapon' | Muslim woman Tahera Ahmed claims she was refused unopened Diet Coke on United Airline flight because it could be used as a 'weapon' |
| (7 months later) | |
| A Muslim woman has alleged she was the victim of Islamophobia on a United Airlines flight when she was denied an unopened can of Diet Coke because it could be used as a “weapon”. | A Muslim woman has alleged she was the victim of Islamophobia on a United Airlines flight when she was denied an unopened can of Diet Coke because it could be used as a “weapon”. |
| Tahera Ahmad, a chaplain at Chicago’s Northwestern University, requested a can of unopened Diet Coke for “hygiene reasons” but claimed she was refused because of apparent security concerns. | Tahera Ahmad, a chaplain at Chicago’s Northwestern University, requested a can of unopened Diet Coke for “hygiene reasons” but claimed she was refused because of apparent security concerns. |
| But she complained moments later a man sitting next to her was given an unopened can of beer. | But she complained moments later a man sitting next to her was given an unopened can of beer. |
| Ms Ahmad made the claims in a post on her Facebook page, which immediately went viral. It has been shared by almost 7,000 people. | Ms Ahmad made the claims in a post on her Facebook page, which immediately went viral. It has been shared by almost 7,000 people. |
| “I told her [the air steward] she was clearly discriminating against me,” Ms Ahmad wrote, who said she was told “it's so you don't use it as a weapon”. | “I told her [the air steward] she was clearly discriminating against me,” Ms Ahmad wrote, who said she was told “it's so you don't use it as a weapon”. |
| Ms Ahmed wrote that after asking if anybody had witnessed the incident, another male passenger told her "you Moslem, you need to shut the F** up". She alleges he then went on to add, "yes you know you would use it as a WEAPON so shut the f**k up." | Ms Ahmed wrote that after asking if anybody had witnessed the incident, another male passenger told her "you Moslem, you need to shut the F** up". She alleges he then went on to add, "yes you know you would use it as a WEAPON so shut the f**k up." |
| She ended her post with the hashtag #Islamphobiaisreal. | She ended her post with the hashtag #Islamphobiaisreal. |
| Many took to Twitter and other social media sites to show solidarity with Ms Ahmad and threatened to boycott the airline. | Many took to Twitter and other social media sites to show solidarity with Ms Ahmad and threatened to boycott the airline. |
| In a statement a spokesman for United Airlines said: “The flight attendant on board Shuttle America flight 3504 attempted several times to accommodate Ms Ahmad's beverage request after a misunderstanding regarding a can of diet soda. | In a statement a spokesman for United Airlines said: “The flight attendant on board Shuttle America flight 3504 attempted several times to accommodate Ms Ahmad's beverage request after a misunderstanding regarding a can of diet soda. |
| “The inflight crew met with Ms Ahmad after the flight arrived in Washington to provide assistance and further discuss the matter. | “The inflight crew met with Ms Ahmad after the flight arrived in Washington to provide assistance and further discuss the matter. |
| "Additionally, we spoke with Ms Ahmad this afternoon to get a better understanding of what occurred and to apologise for not delivering the service our customers expect when travelling with us. | "Additionally, we spoke with Ms Ahmad this afternoon to get a better understanding of what occurred and to apologise for not delivering the service our customers expect when travelling with us. |
| “We look forward to having the opportunity to welcome Ms Ahmad back,” he added. | “We look forward to having the opportunity to welcome Ms Ahmad back,” he added. |
| But Ms Ahmad remained unimpressed and in a new post lambasted the airline for trivialising her experience. | But Ms Ahmad remained unimpressed and in a new post lambasted the airline for trivialising her experience. |
| “It is ridiculing to my integrity to dismiss the discriminatory behaviour towards me. I have dedicated my life to peace, in fact I was on this United flight to promote social justice activism,” she wrote. | “It is ridiculing to my integrity to dismiss the discriminatory behaviour towards me. I have dedicated my life to peace, in fact I was on this United flight to promote social justice activism,” she wrote. |
| “It is truly disheartening when the discrimination of Americans as myself who are working hard every day to promote dialogue and understanding is disregarded and trivialised,” she added. | “It is truly disheartening when the discrimination of Americans as myself who are working hard every day to promote dialogue and understanding is disregarded and trivialised,” she added. |