Christian kicked off EasyJet flight over WhatsApp prayer message on phone
A British Christian was kicked off an EasyJet flight after a fellow passenger mistook a WhatsApp message on his phone for a reference to ISIS.
On Thursday, Laolu Opebiyi, 40, was waiting aboard an EasyJet aircraft bound for Amsterdam from Luton Airport when security personnel came over to ask him if he was converting to Islam. The two armed officers also asked him about his faith and the church he is attending before escorting him out of the plane, Christian Today reports.
The passenger apparently saw a message on Opebiyi's phone about "prayer" and reported the British Christian as a security threat. Opebiyi, a business analyst, explained that he was trying to use WhatsApp for a conference call prayer with his friends, according to The Guardian.
Opebiyi said the passenger behind him suddenly asked him what he meant by "prayer." Realizing that the passenger had been reading the message on his phone from behind him, he explained that he was trying to pray with his friends. The passenger then approached the cabin crew and returned after 15 minutes before two armed officers came aboard.
Opebyi also said the passenger may have misunderstood the WhatsApp group "Iron Sharpens Iron" (ISI) on his mobile phone. He said he told them he was a Christian and even showed them his Bible, but he was forced to surrender his phone and password to prove that he was not a terrorist, the report relays.
"That guy doesn't know me and within two minutes he's judging me," Opebiyi told The Guardian in an interview. "Even if I was a Muslim, it was pretty unfair the way I was treated. I don't think anyone, irrespective of their religion should be treated in such a way."
Upon his return to the EasyJet desk, the passenger who complained about him refused to fly. Six other passengers also followed suit. Opebiyi flew to his destination after four hours because the pilot did not want him to return to the plane anymore, the report details.
Although Opebyi has been cleared of the accusations, he expressed his fears over being placed on a terrorist watch list just because someone saw the word "prayer" on his phone. He is concerned that his movements may now be monitored because of the incident.
In a statement, a spokesperson for EasyJet apologized for the inconvenience the incident caused the Christian passenger. However, the company also said they consider safety and security of their passengers as their top priority.