US: Religious views cannot avoid airport screening

Agency chief tells Senate Homeland Security Committee that passengers who refuse to go through a whole-body scanner machine won't be allowed on planes.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
airport security pakistan 248.88 AP (photo credit: )
airport security pakistan 248.88 AP
(photo credit: )
WASHINGTON  — The US Transportation Security Administration on Tuesday announced that airline passengers will be unable to avoid body imaging screening or pat-downs even if their religious beliefs forbid it.
Agency chief John Pistole told the Senate Homeland Security Committee that passengers who refuse to go through a whole-body scanner machine and get a pat-down will not be allowed on planes, even if they turned down the in-depth screening for religious reasons.
Civil rights groups contend the more intensive screening violates rights including freedom of religion.
The issue is getting new attention after a man posted an item online saying he was thrown out of the San Diego airport for rejecting a full-body scan and pat-down groin check and insisting he go through a metal detector instead.