Bismillah hir Rahman nir Rahim - In the name  of God the Most Beneficent the Most Merciful
Islamic Shura Council of So Cal
Community Advisory May 18, 2009
TSA ALLOWS TRAVELERS TO
 "OPT OUT OF BODY SCANNERS" 
  AT U.S. AIRPORTS
 

Dr. Siddiqi and Shakeel Syed visit with TSA officalsAfter a series of meetings with interfaith leaders and advocacy organizations, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) this week agreed to make traveler compliance with the highly controversial "full body scanners" optional.

The welcome announcement came after a number of groups expressed concern over privacy and modesty issues, for themselves and their children, related to the advanced image technology machines.  The TSA reassured the community representatives (Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman Fiqh Council of North America, Shakeel Syed, Executive Director Islamic Shura Council and Aziza Hassan, Director Government Relations of MPAC) in a meeting requested by the Islamic Shura Council to discuss the Islamic perspective on body scanners.

  • Advanced imaging technology screening is optional to all passengers. Those electing not to walk through the machine may choose to go through alternative screening. Clear and additional signage will be put up to communicate this option.

  • Alternative screening (pat down) will be gender sensitive and in a private setting.

  • The blurring of all faces of individuals who pass through the machines.

  • The ability to store, transmit or print images is disabled on all machines at the factory, before they are delivered to the TSA. Each image is deleted immediately once it is viewed. Machine operators will not have the ability to enable the aforementioned tools.[1]

  • Transportation and Security Officers (TSOs) will not be allowed to take any cameras, phones, or recording devices into the room where the images are screened.

Ms. Kimberly Walton, Special Counselor to the Office of Special Counsel - TSA Headquarters stated that TSA is studying alternate technologies that are less invasive but equally effective.

The Fiqh Council's position for Muslims to avail "alternate screening options" remains good until such time TSA offers less invasive alternate technologies, said Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi.

The Islamic Shura Council will continue to coordinate with the TSA leadership of LAX Airports in regard to body scanner issues.

For more information on what to expect, safety features related to the technology, passenger privacy, and TSA goals, visit: http://www.tsa.gov/approach/tech/imaging_technology.shtm.

Read TSA's response to the FOIA lawsuit by Electronic PrivacyInformationCenter.

To report concerns directly to the TSA: [email protected].

To report discriminatory incidents involving Transportation Security Officers (TSOs): Email [email protected] or [email protected].

Fill out an online complaint on the MPAC website.

[1] This claim has been disputed by privacy watchdog the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC). According to product specification and vendor contracts obtained through legal requests, EPIC says the machines do permit storage and transmission of sensitive images. For more information, see: "Body Scanners Can Store, Send Images, Group Says." CNN, (January 11, 2010). Available at: http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/01/11/body.scanners/index.html.

Islamic Shura Council of Southern California  

The Islamic Shura Council is an umbrella organization of Mosques & Muslim organizations serving the Muslims of Southern California. Since 1995, the Council continues to foster the spirit and culture of "working together" at all levels in one of the most diverse and largest Muslim populations in the country. 


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