Winnipeg - Arab Canada News

A Muslim woman from Winnipeg expressed her feelings of helplessness and humiliation after being asked to remove her hijab on a Flair Airlines flight during a domestic trip in Canada.

The young woman, who preferred to remain unnamed for personal reasons, told CTV News that she "felt completely helpless," noting that the flight crew asked her to remove her hijab during the security screening before departure, without providing any private space or consideration for her religious privacy.

She added, "The hijab is not just a piece of cloth for me; it is an expression of my identity and my faith, and what happened was an infringement on my dignity."

In response to the incident, Flair Airlines issued a statement confirming that they are taking the matter "very seriously," emphasizing their commitment to policies that respect religious and cultural diversity. However, they clarified that the request was part of routine security procedures in coordination with civil aviation authorities.

Human rights organizations condemned the incident, calling for an independent investigation and ensuring that such violations do not recur, while the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) indicated that what occurred "could be considered a violation of the constitutional rights of Canadian citizens to practice their religious rituals freely."

This incident comes at a time when calls are increasing for a review of Canadian airline policies and training of crews to handle culturally and religiously sensitive issues, especially in light of rising global tensions and increasing cases of discrimination against Muslims.