An Iraqi refugee said he was kicked off a flight in the US because he was speaking Arabic on his phone.

Khairuldeen Makhzoomi was supposed to fly from Los Angeles to Oakland on April 6, expecting to get there in time for class. The day before, he attended the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, with Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon.

[attach id=501314 size="medium"]Khairuldeen Makhzoomi is an Iraqi refugee.[/attach]

Before the flight took off, Makhzoomi, a political science student, called his uncle and spoke in Arabic before signing off with “Inshallah” — a phrase meaning, “If God is willing.”

Makhzoomi said he noticed a female passenger staring at him when he hung up. She got up and spoke with someone on staff. Moments later, an airline employee removed Makhzoomi from the plane.

Authorities grilled him about his family and his travel plans, searched his genital area and asked if he was hiding a knife

Makhzoomi said security and FBI officers searched and questioned him, at one point while dozens of onlookers stood watching. Authorities grilled him about his family and his travel plans, searched his genital area and asked if he was hiding a knife.

“The way they searched me and the dogs, the officers, people were watching me and the humiliation made me so afraid because it brought all of these memories back to me,” he told the Daily Californian.

Now he's pushing for an apology from the airline and spreading the word about what happened, which he calls a clear case of Islamaphobia.

Southwest declined to provide details about the incident but said in a written statement that the airline doesn't tolerate discrimination.

"Prior to the departure of Flight 4620, our crew made the decision to investigate a report of potentially threatening comments overheard onboard our aircraft. A group of our employees including the flight crew made the decision to review the situation. We understand local law enforcement also spoke with that passenger as the aircraft departed the gate," Southwest said.

But  Mr Makhzoomi said that all he wanted was an apology.

"We as a people, Iraqi, American, Iranian, we share one thing in common, and that is our dignity. If someone tries to take that away from us, we should fight but not with aggression, with knowledge and education. One must stand for his principle."