Muslim scholars sue US Airways

Six Muslim scholars who were kicked off a US Airways flight last fall have filed a lawsuit claiming the airline discriminated against them and violated their civil rights.

The imams, five of whom live in the Phoenix area, were returning from a religious conference in November when they were taken off a plane in Minneapolis, handcuffed and questioned. They had prayed on their prayer rugs in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport before the flight, and after they boarded a passenger passed a note expressing concern to a flight attendant.

The airline released a statement saying that its initial position had not changed. It said its employees “acted appropriately, and we continue to back the actions of our crew and ground employees in this case.”