Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary has said Muslim men should be the focus of searches at airport security.
In an interview with
The Times, O'Leary opined that airport security should focus on "males of a Muslim persuasion."
"Who are the bombers?" said O'Leary. "They are going to be single males travelling on their own. If you are travelling with a family of kids, on you go; the chances you are going to blow them all up is zero.
"You can't say stuff, because it's racism, but it will generally be males of a Muslim persuasion. Thirty years ago it was the Irish. If that is where the threat is coming from, deal with the threat."
The Times has reported on O'Leary's comments with the headline "Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary wants extra checks on Muslim men."
The Muslim Council of Britain has issued a statement in response to O'Leary's quotes, saying:"He openly advocates discrimination against "males of a Muslim persuasion", which presumably is not based on specific intelligence but solely whether someone 'looks or acts like a Muslim'. This is the very definition of Islamophobia.
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"Institutional discrimination against Muslims is well established: whether it is the ability to get a job, buy a flat or even getting car insurance. The challenges of #flyingwhilstMuslim are well documented across the globe."
JOE has reached out to Ryanair for comment.
