Two Muslim women in the United Kingdom refused a full-body scan at an airport, becoming the first fliers to do so, the Daily Mail reports.
The women were traveling together to Islamabad when they were selected at random by security officials to be screened with the full-body scanner.
According to the London newspaper, one of the women refused to pass through because of religious objections, while the other cited medical reasons.
Airport staff then informed the women that they would not be allowed to board the Pakistan International Airlines flight if they were not willing to be scanned.
The women agreed to forfeit their tickets, valued at about $600 each, and leave the airport with their luggage.
An estimated 15,000 people reportedly have already passed through the scanners since they were introduced at Heathrow and Manchester airports on Feb. 5, including Muslim passengers.
The news comes on the heels of a fatwa issued by a group of North American Islamic scholars last month forbidding Muslim-Americans from passing through the devices, saying they violate the faith’s teachings on modesty.
Following the decree, the Transportation Security administration issued a statement saying all passengers could opt out of full-body scanners and instead under go pat downs.
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Muslim women barred from flight to Pakistan after refusing full-body scan at Manchester Airport
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ITS IN COLOR. I TAKE IT BACK. D: