Debbie Schlussel: Islam v. 1st Amendment: Flying Imams Seek to Sue All Passengers Who Complained
You know how Muslims are always whining about the First Amendment and how it protects their right to openly support Islamic terrorists who want to blow us all up? Well, as I've always noted, they believe in the First Amendment only for themselves--AND NOT FOR US INFIDELS. (That also puts the lie to their many lawsuits pursuing the "Equal Protection" clause. They don't want Equal Protection for the rest of us.)
Well, now, there's yet another example--in the form of the Flying Imams' lawsuit. Minneapolis Star-Tribune's Katherine Kersten writes in her blog about a startling piece about a section hidden deep inside the Flying Imams' lawsuit. They want to sue all passengers who exercised their First Amendment rights and reported the imams to flight crew and law enforcement. This could have a very chilling effect on anyone inclined to report on suspicious activities of those who appear to be terrorists:
The most alarming aspect of the imams' suit is buried in paragraph 21 of their complaint. It describes "John Doe" defendants whose identity the imams' attorneys are still investigating. It reads: "Defendants 'John Does' were passengers - who contacted U.S. Airways to report the alleged 'suspicious' behavior of Plaintiffs' performing their prayer at the airport terminal."Paragraph 22 adds: "Plaintiffs will seek leave to amend this Complaint to allege true names, capacities, and circumstances supporting [these defendants'] liability - at such time as Plaintiffs ascertain the same."
In plain English, the imams plan to sue the "John Does," too.
Who are these unnamed culprits? The complaint describes them as "an older couple who was sitting [near the imams] and purposely turn[ed] around to watch" as they prayed. "The gentleman ('John Doe') in the couple - picked up his cellular phone and made a phone call while watching the Plaintiffs pray," then "moved to a corner" and "kept talking into his cellular phone."
In retribution for this action, the unnamed couple probably will be dragged into court soon and face the prospect of hiring a lawyer, enduring hostile questioning and paying huge legal bills. The same fate could await other as-yet-unnamed passengers on the US Airways flight who came forward as witnesses.
If I were advising these John Doe passengers, I'd tell them to get together as a group and hire an attorney. They can probably get someone good to represent them pro bono. And then, if and when they are sued--either in name or as John Does--they should immediately file a Motion for Summary Disposition, getting themselves dropped from this absurd lawsuit.
And then, I would advise them to file suits against CAIR and every single one of the flying imams for damages and emotional pain and suffering. Sue their asses.
Thanks to the many readers who alerted me to this.
Posted by Debbie on March 15, 2007 03:27 PM to Debbie Schlussel