Outrage after United Airlines refuses Muslim woman Diet Coke because can ‘could be used as a weapon’

ALL she wanted was a can of Diet Coke. Instead, Tahera Ahmad got a gobful of abuse that left her in tears - and an airline in shame.

AN AIRLINE has sparked outrage for allegedly refusing a Muslim woman an unopened can of coke — in case she attacked passengers with it.

Thousands have lashed out at United Airlines’s alleged treatment of university chaplain Tahera Ahmad, described in reports as a moderate Muslim, during a flight from Chicago to Washington DC on Friday night.

Writing about the incident on Facebook, Ms Ahmad said she was left “in tears of humiliation” when she asked for an unopened can of Diet Coke for “hygienic reasons”.

The flight attendant allegedly refused, saying, “We are unauthorised to give unopened cans to people because they may use it as a weapon on the plane.”

However the 31-year-old, who has been honoured at the White House, claims the passenger beside her was given an unopened can of beer.

Tahera Ahmad is a chaplain at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Picture: Facebook/Tahera Ahmad

Tahera Ahmad said she was targeted because she was Muslim. Picture: Facebook/Tahera Ahmad

When Ms Ahmad asked fellow passengers if they had “witnessed this discriminatory and disgusting behaviour”, a man yelled at her, “You Muslim, you need to shut the f**k up ... Yes you know you would use it as a weapon so shut the f**k up.”

“I can’t help but cry on this plane because I thought people would defend me and say something. Some people just shook their heads in dismay. #‎IslamophobiaISREAL,” Ms Ahmad, from Chicago, wrote on Facebook.

Ms Ahmad was wearing a headscarf, or hijab.

The flight was operated by United Airlines partner, Shuttle America.

Speaking out ... Tahera Ahmad’s Facebook post about the incident has been shared more than 6900 times. Picture: Facebook/Tahera Ahmad

United Airlines said in a statement: “The flight attendant on-board Shuttle America flight 3504 attempted several times to accommodate Ms Ahmad’s beverage request after a misunderstanding regarding a can of soda. The in-flight crew met with Ms Ahmad after the flight arrived in Washington to provide assistance and further discuss the matter.

“Additionally, we spoke with Ms Ahmad this afternoon to get a better understanding of what occurred and to apologise for not delivering the service our customers expect when travelling with us.”

Ms Ahmad slammed the airlines’s statement in a Facebook post, saying it “dismissed her entire narrative”.

“As a Premier frequent flyer at United, I have been served unopened canned beverages many times ... It is ridiculing my integrity to dismiss the discriminatory behaviour towards me.”

Response ... Tahera Ahmad said she was ‘disappointed’ with United Airlines’s response. Picture: Facebook/Tahera Ahmad

Ms Ahmad was travelling to Washington DC on Friday for a conference promoting dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian youth when the alleged incident happened.

According to a news release, the associate chaplain at Northwestern University in Illinois was recognised at the White House in March 2014 as a leading Muslim female in the United States.

Ms Ahmad’s Facebook account of her experience has been shared by thousands of people on social media.

Using the hashtag #UnitedForTahera, supporters on Twitter have accused the airline of Islamophobia and called for a United Airlines boycott.

The airline said it is investigating the incident.

Deleting @united out of my life. Join me & send your screenshot of deleting the app. @TaheraHAhmad @ImamSuhaibWebb pic.twitter.com/UEuOirji9W

— Jeebah LV (@jeebah) May 31, 2015

Only an ignorant coward would assume any woman wearing a hijab is gonna weaponize a soda can. Shame on #UnitedAirlines. #unitedfortahera

— Charlie_O (@Charlie_O) May 31, 2015

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. -MLK #unitedfortahera @TaheraHAhmad pic.twitter.com/4OUa6gVUaA

— Joshua Smith (@belovejoshua) May 31, 2015

So @united: Your public statement can't use words like 'misunderstanding' to gloss over real issue at hand: discrimination. #unitedfortahera

— Arshe Ahmed (@arshe2020) May 31, 2015

@united statement on #unitedfortahera is dismissive garbage. I will never fly united again http://t.co/2A9CyRl53g

— Omar Suleiman (@omarsuleiman504) May 31, 2015

pic.twitter.com/QE40LSAVIw

— Suhaib Webb (@ImamSuhaibWebb) May 30, 2015

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