Detroit, USA - Saying that body scanners violate Islamic law, Muslim-American groups are supporting a "fatwa" — a religious ruling — that forbids Muslims from going through the scanners at airports.
The Fiqh Council of North America — a body of Islamic scholars — issued a fatwa this week that says going through the airport scanners would violate Islamic rules on modesty.
"It is a violation of clear Islamic teachings that men or women be seen naked by other men and women," reads the fatwa issued Tuesday. "Islam highly emphasizes haya (modesty) and considers it part of faith. "
The decision could complicate efforts to intensify screening of airline passengers since the Christmas Day bombing attempt in Detroit by a Muslim suspect from Nigeria. The Muslim groups are urging members to submit to a security patdown instead.