Christian removed from flight over 'prayer' message on phone

A British Christian was removed from a flight by police, after a passenger saw a message about prayer on his phone.

Laolu Opebiyi, a Nigerian-born business analyst who now lives in London, was reported as a security threat after a fellow passenger saw a WhatsApp conversation on Mr Opebiyi's phone, related to prayer. 

Mr Obebiyi, 40, was then removed from the EasyJet plane at Luton airport by armed officers.
 

Escorted off the plane 

The passenger had looked over Mr Opebiyi's shoulder and misread the title of the WhatsApp group, 'Isi men', as 'Isis men'.

He then asked Mr Opebiyi, "What do you mean by prayer?"

After explaining that he was arranging to pray with his friends, the passenger spoke to the cabin crew and then left the plane, saying he was feeling unwell.

Seven other passengers also left the plane because of security fears.

Minutes later, armed officers told Mr Obebiyi to pick up his belongings and accompany them into the terminal building.

Mr Opebiyi explained that he was a Christian, and showed them the Bible in his bag.

"They asked me which church I attend and how long I have been going there," he told the Guardian. 

"They also asked if I have ever thought about changing my religion to which I replied 'no'."

He also told the officers that the name of the WhatsApp group, 'Isi men', stands for 'as iron sharpens iron men', which comes from Proverbs 27:17. 

The full verse says "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another", referring to the building up of character through mutual encouragement and support. 

Mr Opebiyi's ordeal continued as even after explaining the situation, he was not able to re-board his 6:45am flight to Amsterdam, and had to wait for the next available flight, which departed three hours later. 

Speaking about what happened, on 25 February, he told the Guardian:

"That guy doesn't know me and within two minutes he's judging me.

"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.

"If we keep on giving into this kind of bigotry and irrational fear, I dare say that the terrorists will have achieved their aim."

Mr Opebiyi now believes he may be on a terrorist watch list, as when he returned the next day from his business trip, the electronic passport gate did not let him through and he had to speak to an immigration officer before he could proceed.

"Someone felt I was a terrorist because they saw the word 'fprayer' on my phone and now I stand in uncertainty about my freedom of movement in and out of the United Kingdom," he said.