#Current Affairs

Trump Makes Praying at Airports Cool Again

Published

February 6, 2017

“You Pray, We Stay! You Pray, We Stay!”

Such were the cheers protesters chanted as thousands across the US gathered at airports to express their disapproval of Trump’s unprecedented travel ban from seven Muslim-majority countries. The executive order, disguised as a security measure, only affected innocent families and vulnerable refugees fleeing war and looking for safety.

Almost immediately following the ban, protesters rushed to occupy all major airports in the country to demand the release of innocent travellers with valid travel documents. One of the unintended outcomes of these demonstrations was the public acceptance of the Muslim ritual prayer at airports. As times of the five daily prayers entered, dozens of Muslims at the protests joined together to pray in congregation; the prayer somehow managed to become a form of protest itself at that point. This was a stark contrast to the usual circumstance where Muslims generally try to find secluded spots at airports and pray anxiously with hopes of avoiding too much attention. Moving images of protesters circling around Muslims as they say their prayers have gone viral on the internet; we share a few below that capture this historic moment.

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Today, at Detroit Metro Airport, protesters made room for Muslims to pray.

They used protest signs as prayer mats.#nomuslimban pic.twitter.com/8SW8Pphhbo

— Diana Hussein (@heyadiana) January 30, 2017

Muslim immigrants protest #TrumpBan in prayer vigil outside International Arrivals Building at JFK Airport, where delays, confusion persist. pic.twitter.com/irRaX3PBBz

— N. J. Burkett (@njburkett7) February 3, 2017

Muslim men set down their protest signs to take part in prayer at DFW airport #MuslimBan https://t.co/ZWTeP2sNoh via @dallasnews pic.twitter.com/jBzHIbrE6s

— Smiley Pool (@SmileyPool) January 30, 2017

Banning refugees is un-American. Prayer in protest at Denver Airport. (photo sent by a friend – I'm home, calling reps) pic.twitter.com/EAeV4c2Ip6

— Dr. Angie Pendergrass (@apuffycloud) January 29, 2017

Muslim Prayer At Dallas/Fort Worth Airport In Protests!!!https://t.co/88aIUUd0Md pic.twitter.com/VNcqjI11vQ

— DLW (@Dlw20161950) January 29, 2017

At JFK, out in the sharp cold, dozens of Muslims prepare a prayer action in protest of the #MuslimBan as lawyers continue work inside. pic.twitter.com/zbDQSkgr7e

— Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) February 3, 2017

https://twitter.com/KhaledBeydoun/status/826228614228213760

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Related Topics:Muslim Ban prayer at airports protests Trump

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Waleed S. Ahmed

Waleed Ahmed writes on current affairs for MuslimMatters. His work has focused on Muslim minorities, human rights, culture and international conflicts. Currently based out of Montreal, he holds a Ph.D. in particle physics from McGill University. Waleed also has a keen interest in studying Arabic and French. He spends his spare time reading, playing basketball and praying for Jon Stewart to run in the next presidential election. contact: waleed dot ahmed at muslimmatters.org

4 Comments

KAREEM

February 11, 2017 at 11:11 AM

Salaams to all. Can anyone tell me who is the person (I am assuming he is an imam) that recited the Fatiha? His recitation sounded amazing, I would like to hear more.

Thanks

Reply
WAJiD

February 13, 2017 at 4:57 PM

Salaam,

Great article Waleed. While many have seen the images online, to see them concentrated in one place evokes a much more powerful response.

Reply
- Waleed Ahmed
  
  February 28, 2017 at 6:58 PM
  
  Thanks Wajid :)
  
  Reply
- vilius
  
  May 9, 2020 at 3:53 AM
  
  This is America. Your right to pray ends where my right to free travel and absence of these Pagan Tribal rituals are being thrown in my face begins. TSA and the local Airport authorities should arrest all of you for disturbing the peace, interrupting the free flow of airpoet traffic, and a dozen other travel rule violations you are doing in a public transportation area. You should hold this crap in some other place. I think the Feds should deport you back to where you can continue to blow each other up so we do not have to be burdened with your Pagan chants.
  
  Reply