Muslim woman subjected to discrimination on United Airline flight considering legal action

Says she would consider every option to make sure no other passenger would have to endure discriminatory behavior

A Muslim woman who recently became a victim of discrimination on a United Airline flight says she has not dismissed taking legal action against the airline.

Speaking to HuffPost Live, Tahera Ahmad said she would consider every option to make sure that no other passenger would have to endure discriminatory behavior.

The Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) also endorsed this view and suggested that legal action is an option, the aim being to ensure all passengers are treated with respect but it should be the last resort.

Ahmad, 31, is Director of interfaith engagement at North Western University. She was also honored by the White House for her work for the betterment of the community as well as conducting interfaith relations workshops and cultural awareness initiatives for the US State Department.

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On May 29, Ahmad was on a Shuttle America flight that serves United Airline customers when the flight attendant refused to give her an unopened can of soda. Ahmad said it was a clear act of discrimination as moments later the flight attendant handed an unopened can to a nearby passenger. When Ahmad complained another passenger interrupted and said: "You Muslim, you shut the 'F' up. ... You know you would use it as a weapon, so you need to shut the 'F' up."

Ahmad describes the incident as a ‘horrible experience’ during the interview.

"It was just a really horrible experience because this man is basically shouting over and trying to silence me, and the flight attendant didn't do anything," she said. "There was no bystander intervention."

In support of Ahmad, NorthWestern University President Morton Shapiro wrote to the airline demanding a formal apology, and the assurance that United will educate their staff so no other passengers are subjected to bias like Ahmad.

The initial response from the university was devoid of any responsibility on their part, although since then it has retained the flight attendant responsible.

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On Wednesday, the airline changed its stance further saying, "After investigating this matter, United has ensured that the flight attendant, a Shuttle America employee, will no longer serve United customers. United does not tolerate behavior that is discriminatory, or that appears to be discriminatory, against our customers or employees."

On the other hand Ahmad insists that she does not want the flight attendant to be removed from her job but to get educated from this incident.

"I am not looking to get this flight attendant fired. ... She made a terrible mistake, and people make mistakes," Ahmad said. "I have asked for United [Airlines] to really recognise this. If they choose to just gloss over it, as they had in their last statement, that's really unfortunate. So, at this point I am going to consider all options in which to ensure this kind of utter humiliation does not happen to anyone."

This article originally appeared on Huffington Post