A Muslim woman from Winnipeg says she was left feeling deeply humiliated after being forced to remove her hijab in public while boarding a flight at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Kazi Amin was returning to Canada with her husband and children after a family trip to Bangladesh when she was stopped by an airline employee following customs clearance. The staff member claimed that her appearance no longer matched the photo on her 2016 passport.

Speaking to Radio-Canada, Amin recalled the moment the employee told her she must take off her headscarf. Despite explaining the religious significance of the hijab and requesting a private area, she says she was instructed to remove it in a public space.

“I didn’t know what else to do,” Amin said. “I took it off in front of everyone. For us, that’s something only done in front of family. It was incredibly violating.”

Her daughter, Afsara Raidah, expressed frustration with the rationale behind the demand. “I’ve changed my hair color from dark to blonde, should I be asked to dye it back to match my ID? It just doesn’t make sense,” she said.

The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) states that religious head coverings do not need to be removed unless they trigger a security alarm. In cases where further screening is required, passengers must be offered a private inspection. According to Amin, no such option was provided.

Flair Airlines, the carrier involved, said the employee works for its ground services partner, AGI, and has been placed on leave while an investigation is underway. CEO Maciej Wilk emphasized that all partners are expected to uphold values of dignity, respect, and non-discrimination.

AGI has issued an apology to Amin, though her daughter called it “vague and impersonal.” The family is now seeking legal counsel.

“This goes beyond just Muslim women,” Raidah said. “Other minorities have faced similar treatment. What’s needed is proper training—so incidents like this don’t keep happening.”