Body scanners have been introduced at some airports in response to the bombing attempt on Christmas Day by a Muslim traveller from Nigeria. In airports where body scanners are used, travellers would be required to enter into the body scanner which would reveal detailed images of traveller's body and reveal the presence of explosives or other dangerous materials. The bombing attempt prompted intensified screening of potential Muslim terrorists and travellers and the introduction of the body scanner, however, the fatwa could complicate enhanced security measures at airports.
Muslims groups have protested stating that body scanners go against the principles of their religion and have urged Muslim travellers to refrain from the scans instead opting for a 'pat down' from the security personnel.
The Michigan chapter of The Council on American-Islamic Relations has endorsed the fatwa and commented that ''we support the Fiqh Council's statement on full-body scanners and believe that the religious and privacy rights of passengers can be respected while maintaining safety and security,'' said Nihad Awad, national executive director of CAIR.''
According to Jim Fotenos, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), currently 40 full body scanners are being used at 19 US airports and 450 more body scanners are planned and will be utilized throughout U.S. airports in the near future. The agency advised that the body scanners' images resemble chalk outlines and do not produce photos.
The TSA issued a statement advising that a full body scan is ''optional for all passengers.'' He added that those passengers who don't choose to have a body scan ''will receive equivalent screening that may include a physical pat-down, hand-wanding, and other technologies. Physical pat-downs are performed by Transportation Security Officers of the same sex as the passenger in a private screening area, if the passenger requests.''
The statement also addressed the public's concern over the new technology and stated that the ''TSA's mission is to keep the traveling public safe. Advanced imaging technologies are an important tool in a multi-layered security system to detect evolving threats such as improvised explosive devices. TSA's use of these technologies includes strong protections in place to safeguard passenger privacy. Screening images are automatically deleted, and the officer viewing the image will never see the passenger.''
