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Iraniha family
Kevin Iraniha, after graduating from an international law program in Costa Rica, with his brothers Jahan, far left, and Shervin, second from left. His father, Nasser Iraniha, is on the right.
A U.S. citizen from San Diego who was barred from boarding a flight home from Costa Rica — apparently because he has been placed on the U.S. no-fly list — was attempting to fly to Mexico and cross into the United States by land on Thursday, attorneys familiar with his case said.
Kevin Iraniha, 27, had just completed his master's degree in international law at a United Nations-affiliated Peace University in Costa Rica and was preparing to return home on Tuesday when he was refused boarding, according to Munia Jabbar, a staff attorney with the Council on American Islamic Relations, or CAIR, a non-profit civil rights group.
Iraniha went to the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica, where he was questioned extensively by FBI agents about his religious beliefs, his attendance and contacts at mosques in Costa Rica, and whether he was involved in activities that presented a threat, Jabbar said.
Iraniha was born and raised in San Diego. His father is an Iranian-born U.S. citizen, and his mother is a native-born U.S. citizen.
The officials indicated he was on the U.S. no-fly list of people who are prohibited from boarding domestic flights or international flights that enter U.S. airspace. The list has grown from just a few names prior to Sept. 11, 2001, when Islamic extremists used commercial flights to attack the United States, to a roster of about 20,000 names, including about 500 U.S. citizens in 2012.
In order to get home, Iraniha booked an alternative flight to Mexico City and onward to Tijuana, and planned to drive over the border to San Diego.
Kevin Iraniha could not immediately be reached by phone, but his brother Jahan said that he had received messages confirming arrival in Mexico City and imminent boarding of a flight for Tijuana. Family members were planning to go to the Mexican border to meet Iraniha Thursday evening, according to Jahan Iraniha, who declined further comment until Friday.
"At this moment we are trying to get him safely home, and we will look at the details and questions in coming days," said Hanif Mohebi, executive director of CAIR San Diego.
Dozens of Americans — primarily Muslims — have been stranded overseas by the no-fly list. As in Iraniha’s case, many discover they are on the list only when they are at an airport trying to check in for a flight.
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The no-fly list does not bar American citizens from returning to the United States by land.
But Iraniha’s ability to return is still uncertain, and there are few precedents for attempting to do so.
Another American who found he was on the no-fly list when attempting to return to the U.S. from Bogota, Colombia, was Raymond Knaeble. After landing in Mexico City in May 2010, with plans to travel onward by land, Knaeble was interrogated by Mexican officials for 15 hours and then deported to Bogota, according to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union.
According to the court documents, filed on behalf of 15 plaintiffs challenging the U.S. no-fly list, Knaeble finally got back to the United States from Colombia in August 2010 by traveling by bus for 12 days.
The no-fly list, maintained by the Terrorist Screening Center under the FBI, includes "known or reasonably suspected terrorists," according to the FBI website.
A background check showed no criminal background for Iraniha.
In 2010, he helped organize a peace protest to counter a planned Quran burning by anti-Muslim activists, according to the Ocean Bay Rag, a small publication in Southern California.
Iraniha spoke to the Union Tribune of San Diego after he was initially barred from his flight and questioned by the FBI about his religious beliefs and affiliations.
"It's discrimination," he told the publication. "I was shocked; it was really weird to have such questions being asked. First and foremost, I'm an American, and secondly, I don't believe in violence."
The publication said Iraniha — a self-described peace activist and "beach boy" — plans to take some type of action, possibly filing a lawsuit.
Iraniha's two brothers and his father, who had come to Costa Rica to attend his graduation, were all allowed to fly home to the United States.
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Leave a Comment:
American citizen with a passport. They can search him, x-ray him, go through his belongings. Why not let the guy on the plane?
Maybe the 'officials' know something we don't know?
He can come back by other means anyway. And then he's going to be chapped.
Sounds like a bunch of robots make the list and enforce it no matter how ridiculous the result.
Good luck with any law suit, as you won't win it. But if he was born and raised here in the states, there may be someone else with that same name, and therefore he was banned. Who knows, I sure don't.
I
have a hard time believing that he was on the black list because of discrimination,
if that were the case then his father and brothers would not have been allowed
to fly either. Even if someone turns out being innocent they probably have
associates or have participated in activities that cast a suspicious light on
them.
Are you aware the FBI spent most of its early existence tracking down gay people? They are always after one group or another. When you say things like this around the water cooler at work, you may be a bit slow, but when you actually write it down, you become an apologist.
I hope this happens more often! Racial profiling should be mandatory! It wasn't white Europeans that bombed us 9/11!
It was Costa Ricans?
I would be in favor a constitutional convention to settle this issue. 20 years in federal prison for placing someone on the no fly list without a warrant requiring direct evidence of violence and an active plot. A mandatory life sentence for sexual assault under the color of law. I realize it may not be practical to imprison all of the TSA, but I wouldn't mind paying double on my taxes for it.
you do know that there are white european terrorist groups out there that hate use just as much as the other guys
Somehow this MUST be George Bush's fault. After all, we voted for change and we all put our hopes in Mr. Obama. That was what, nearly four years ago now?
How are we better off?
Blame does not need to be limited to one person. And yes, I would say this is a sin that originated with Bush.
If it's so wrong why is it still in place nearly four years after Bush left office? Why hasn't Mr. Obama put an end to it? All it takes is a word from him to Justice and DHS.
I bet the real reason that he is on the No-Fly list is because he said that Janet Napolitano looked fat in a dress.
It's what happens when rights (traveling is a right) is downgraded to a privilege. The US is now a fascist country.
The people have lost. The terrorists -- and the government -- have won.
any means other than walking or riding horseback is a privilege. You need a requirment in other to do any other type of transportation.
Nav, that's not true. Any form of transportation that society "ordinary" for the day is deemed a right by default. The ability to employ it is a necessary element of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The burden is on the state to prove that one shouldn't be entitled to it, such as a driver's license.
Access to the skyways is my all merits a right that the fascist fed gov is immorally depriving of people.
In typical government employee fashion, they hear a name that is not Smith or Jones and the start getting nervous. Hey John Smith, do you have the list? Sorry Bob Jones, Bill Williams has it and he is on his break so Kevin Iraniha will have to wait. Take his aside and keep an eye on him. I get a weird mental vision of the GHB and GWB family all sitting around their computers LTFAO about this... Don't flame me for having fun here, but I do have the vision and the skipe Jed in FL and they all are slappin their knees pig snorting laughs about it. Can you see it or not?!?!
He is an Islamic fanatic who did something extremist to be on it.
And you have proof of this how NAV? Jump to conclusion much?
I bet George W. Bush had something to do with it , I would'nt put in past him ? Poor old George, he's getting blamed for everything these days !
Since he's the equine posterior who was in charge when Homeland Security and the Patriot Act were implemented and we can't seem to get rid of either one, yes, I'd say he is to blame. He started the erosion of personal liberties and should certainly get the credit for it.
Stupid decisions with no one responsible for anything. Ah, isn't bureaucracy wonderful. This is so stupid it's embarrassing.
Congrats! Now you can go and tell your cronies that you did your job today. You clowns are boring. I'd be better off if you would quit your trolling, I know that much.
One of the people on the Al Quaida short list for theh number 2 position is also an American citizen.There have been a number of American citizens involved with crimes against this country lately, adn teh fact that this young man has been watched being around other Al Quaida people is definitley a risk to flying. Prove your loyalty.
Something is wrong with all you people saying the government was wrong, this man is an issue of an Irianian the known terrorist of the world. We have let them in here, they have gotten a hold on the US and Muslims will eventually take over as they have other countries and the Christians will be in the minorty and that will be the end of the US as we know it. They should send all these people home, close our borders to everyone and protect the US citizens, quit worrying about being politically correct, they aren't and they would kill you in a minute. The kill their own daughters and treat their women terrible. I don't care how long they have been here they are still of a terrorist nation and anyone that puts their head in the sand and says they aren't you need to wake up. They have taken over France, Spain and most of England, you need to read waht Muslims are doing in other parts of the world, we cannot allow these people to stay here.
He was on the TSA list for a reason. That reason is not being disclosed. The fact that he was interrogated by the FBI means something. He is being watched for a reason, but without enough evidence, he wasn't arrested - yet. I will make a bet his name will come up in a terrorism story in the future.
Interrogated "about his religious beliefs"... pretty much says it all. We've heard this story of US government abuse of US CITIZENS via the "no fly list" repeated over & over in recent years. And NONE of their names have "come up in a terrorism story". Usually they're trying to coerce people into becoming informants to be used to entrap other people who are similarly disenchanted with the US government. They (the FBI especially) have been quite successful at the entrapment game. This is remarkably similar to the Stasi in East Germany, the KGB in the Soviet Union & Savak in Iran. And now in the USA.
You do know they same thing could have, and should have, been said about Christianity taking over the world don't you? We have Freedom of Religion ensconced in the Constitution for a reason, and yet you would so cavalierly throw it aside out of knee jerk fear. It is one of our less attractive traits as Americans. Remember this:
The no-fly list is an absolute sham and a joke. To believe otherwise is merely deluding yourself into a false sense of national security.
The problem is, too many of our elected officials believe in this sham. If enough of our politicians raised enough of a stink about the existence of this list, and the criteria for being on this list, I think something could be done about it. I'd like to believe that a good piece of legislation would resolve this whole No-Fly business, but a) I don't think we've seen a "good" piece of legislation in decades, and b) Republicans and Democrats can't even agree on what to have for lunch.
"First they came for the Muslims, and I did not speak up because I was not a Muslim. And then the came for me .... " This is US government abuse of power, pure & simple. More proof that the authorities have broken the Constitutional contract with the citizens.
I would like to see the millions of so-called "peaceful" Muslims do a little more to convince their violent brethren & sisters that killing is NOT the answer to their issues. Is there any central leadership to the Muslim religion? It seems like it's a free for all with every little sect doing as they please. Do they not believe that they ARE their brothers keeper? If the Muslims could show the world that they are a peaceful religion by word, but mostly by deed, it would make life better for everyone, especially themselves. I know, I know...aint never gonna happen. Too many crazies to control.
What about christians? I would like to see the millions of them do more to convince their violent brethren killing is not the answer to their issues.
Lots of people in our prisons, gangs, and people who kill doctors, claim to be christian.
socorny--There have been numerous public statements by Islamic leaders against the violence carried out in the name of Islam. But to answer your question, there is not a central "authority" for those of Islam except for the Koran.
Mandy--To compare Islamic terrorists to Christians is absurd. It shows your disdain of the Christian church. How many Christians do you know of that have professed a Holy War and killed indiscriminately in the name of Christianity.
How many Muslims do you know that have professed a holy war and killed indiscriminately in the name of Islam? I'm going to guess none personally.
And disdain of the Christian Church? What a laugh, considering you know nothing about me. The fact is that there are christians out there plotting a clinic bombing, a terrorizing of a funeral, a murder, arson, whatever. There are just as many "bad christians" as there are "bad muslims" To deny that is to stick your head in the sand and pretend that christians are somehow better. which is absolutely not true. no religion is above another in this world.
I have friends who are christian, athiest, muslim, jewish, agnostic, buddhist, etc. Maybe you should go try to meet some actual muslims.
Out of the Billions (with a "B" ) of Muslims around the world a handful are responsible for terrorist acts, yet you ask them all to do more? Do you require that ALL Christians decry the actions of the Christian Right when they terrorize women going to get health care, or do you only chastise the guilty parties? THINK people try it: I can tell you for a fact it doesn't hurt a bit and may educate you a little.
And here's a little tid bit for you the largest Muslim population is not Arab or Persian: It is Indonesian..
Let's face it, a person who rides in a vehicle like a car faces danger if it's his or her friend's and has no idea what shape it's in. When you board a plane you have to worry about people who think differently than you do. It is one thing to be civil with one another .Quite another to be racist.
It upsets me that common sense is not used by TSA and that this young man has to incur the extra expense trying to get home. TSA=IDIOTS Thank your politicians for this, you elected them and they created this. Yes. Our rights are being taken away. Are you idiots! Do you not know that we have the choice to change this?
I have said this before that the "no fly list" is defective in that it is SECRET and nobody can find out if they or anyone else is on it! All of you here have a voice. All of you here, can get active and talk to friends, family, coworkers and anyone else you are of a mind to, to begin the process to change this. We have lost control of our government. The political process we now have is flawed. Evidence the fact that most of our politicians are in the top 1%. Both political parties are flawed. Both political parties are guided by the wealthy. However; where they have money, we have numbers. Problem though is getting millions upon millions of Americans motivated to do something about our political process. There are forums such as these. Blogs etc.. Get together. Get active. Begin the process of impeaching those politicians who fail to protect us. I'd also like to see a "independent party" or "non-affiliated" as a choice when registering to vote! Ladies and gentlemen we are being guided by wealthy people, and it doesn't matter if they are Democrat or Republican. Whoever gets elected will not be serving and protecting us and our interests. It is time to be active to stand up and to do something. Too often the majority of Americans are all to willing to forgive the inadequacies of the current elected politician, even to re-elect them, instead of actually going out and trying to find the person who will not lie to us, who will protect us and our interests. Keep in mind that though they have money, we have numbers (people). Do something. Don't just sit there!