2006-08-30 Iraqi activist forced to change t-shirt with Arabic peace slogan
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Iraqi activist forced to change t-shirt with Arabic peace slogan
longer text
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.
Arabic writing is now offensive, regardless of content; welcome back to the 1950s. (It seems much more likely that the callers were just being cautious, rather than actually objecting to the shirt – in which case the inspector was knowingly distorting the truth.)
[edit] shorter text
“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.”
