Pa pilot says he's on watch list, sues to save job

[babylonsister]

Pa pilot says he's on watch list, sues to save job
By Peter Jackson
Associated Press Writer / August 20, 2008


HARRISBURG, Pa.—A commercial airline pilot and convert to Islam who says his name is on the U.S. government's secret terrorist watch list has fought back, filing a federal lawsuit against the Homeland Security Department and various other federal agencies.

Erich Scherfen says unless his name is removed from the list, he faces losing not only his job but the ability to make a living in his chosen profession.

"My livelihood depends on being off this list," Scherfen told reporters Tuesday after his lawyers filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Harrisburg.

He alleges that the government's actions have violated his and his wife's constitutional rights. The suit seeks a hearing and a decision before he is scheduled to lose his job on Sept. 1.

A New Jersey native, Scherfen, 37, said he believes his name was placed on a watch list because he converted to Islam in 1994 -- even though he is a Gulf War combat veteran. Both he and his Pakistan-born wife, who is also a Muslim, said they have no criminal records or ties to terrorists.

In their lawsuit, the couple said they have been repeatedly subjected to searches, questioning and detention at airports and border crossings since 2006. Ticket agents and others have made vague references to their names being on lists, but there was no clear explanation for the extra scrutiny.

more...

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/08/20/pa_pilot_says_hes_on_watch_list_sues_to_save_job/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Nat

[bdamomma]

1. this is just the beginning

that net will be sucking in innocent people.

[NightWatcher]

2. I wonder how many of the other 1 million terrorists are really not so much

we need to end this totalitarian sillyness. Repeal the Patty Act and breakup the DHS. Take the paper badges away from the Airport fascists and let thpse who did it before take their jobs back.

[gateley]

3. This is SO out of control.

I hope this will be one of the top priorities when Obama takes office.

[SteveM]

4. And to think, many Democrats want to expand it...

First we have the "No-Fly" list, soon we may have the "No-Buy" list. Ted Kennedy was snagged some two dozen times by the No-Fly list before he was taken off. Now, lesser mortals may be subject to a No Buy list wherein anyone on No Fly is automatically added to a proposed No Buy list of those who cannot purchase firearms. Introduced by Frank Lautenberg, millions more Americans would have their Second and Fifth Amendment rights summarily suspended. And who asked the Dems to carry the slop bucket? One Alberto Gonzales.

Goes to show that not all the people who wish to deny Second Amendment (and Fifth Amendment) rights are liberals.

http://www.saf.org/viewpr-new.asp?id=223