Elham Asaad Buaras
A Canadian airline is facing a wave of criticism after a Muslim woman was allegedly ordered to remove her hijab in public by ground staff at Toronto Pearson Airport ahead of a domestic flight.
Kazi Amin was preparing to board Flair Airlines flight F8641 to Winnipeg on June 20 when she was stopped at the gate. A staff member reportedly insisted she take off her headscarf because her passport photo had been taken before she started wearing it – despite her face being clearly visible.
The incident, first shared by Amin’s daughter, Afsara Raidah, on social media, has sparked outrage online and drawn condemnation from advocacy groups.
“Flair Airlines, you violated my mother’s rights and humiliated her at Toronto Pearson Airport today. We will not stay silent,” Raidah wrote. “This was a violation of my mother’s religious freedom and basic human rights. This happened in Canada, a country that claims to value diversity, inclusion, and respect.”
Amin said she offered to remove the hijab in private, in line with her religious beliefs, but was told to do so in front of other passengers.
“I felt humiliated, stripped of my dignity,” she said. “The hijab is part of who I am—it’s not just a piece of cloth.” When her husband protested, the staff member allegedly replied: “Well, you should’ve updated your passport picture.”
Under Transport Canada regulations, religious head coverings such as the hijab do not need to be removed for identification purposes so long as the traveller’s face is visible. In rare cases where removal is deemed necessary – for example, in response to a security alert – it must be conducted in private by an officer of the same gender.
Flair Airlines has since confirmed that the individual involved works for AGI, a third-party ground services provider.
“Although the person is not employed directly by Flair Airlines, we expect all of our service partners to uphold the same standards of respect, professionalism and non-discrimination that we require of our own team,” said Flair’s chief executive, Maciej Wilk.
The airline said AGI has issued a formal apology and placed the employee on leave while an investigation is carried out.
The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) is now involved in the case. In a public statement, the organisation said:
“We are very concerned that such an alleged incident took place within an airport and flight service, where so many of us depend on the professionalism of the staff for basic safety.”
Describing the incident as “a serious violation of religious freedoms and basic rights”, the NCCM added:
“There is no room for Islamophobia in Canada’s airports or airlines, period.”
The Amin family has lodged formal complaints with both Flair Airlines and Transport Canada and is now seeking legal representation.
“We’re not just seeking an apology,” said Raidah. “We want accountability. No one else should be made to feel unsafe or disrespected for their faith.”
Flair said staff employed by its partners undergo training in human rights and religious accommodation in accordance with federal guidelines. No further disciplinary action has yet been announced, and the investigation is ongoing.
Photo: Kazi Amin (right) and her daughter Afsara Raidah speak out after the alleged hijab incident at Toronto Pearson Airport. (Credit: CTV News Screengrab/CC)
