Canadian Muslim Barred from Air Canada Flight Files Human Rights Complaint

TORONTO - A Canadian Muslim who says he was unjustly barred from boarding an Air Canada flight three years ago has a filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

While attempting to purchase a seat on an Air Canada flight from Vancouver to Victoria in May 2004, Shahid Mahmood was flagged as a security threat, despite showing valid identification.

Mahmood's non-Muslim wife, meanwhile, was allowed to purchase a seat on the flight.

Despite repeated attempts to find out why he was blocked, the Toronto-born editorial cartoonist says the airline has never provided a reason.

Mahmood believes he was blocked because he is a Muslim of Pakistani origin.

Nicole Chrolavicius, Mahmood's lawyer, says the case suggests Air Canada was screening passengers with a U.S. "no-fly" list at the time.