To take an earlier example, profiling in US airports is often defended not only in light of the religious identities of Muslims but also on the basis of their race and the belief that one can easily spot a Muslim based on outward appearance, presumably including skin color. Sam Harris, a prominent atheist philosopher and critic of Islam, plainly states this in regard to airport security lines: “We should profile Muslims, or anyone who looks like he or she could conceivably be Muslim, and we should be honest about it.” Racial discrimination and racist exclusionary practices are typically deemed unconstitutional today in the United States, but here is a case in which such discrimination is presented as normal and necessary.

XREF: Connects to debates on racial profiling, Islamophobia, and how security logic overrides constitutional anti-discrimination norms.

Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Intro…, loc. 65