Please comment...........
UK Muslim minister detained at US airport
LONDON, Oct 29: Britain’s first Muslim government minister said he was “deeply disappointed” after his luggage was searched for explosives at a United States airport as he returned from official talks.
International Development Minister Shahid Malik was detained for about 40 minutes at Washington Dulles airport on Sunday by the Department of Homeland Security after meeting officials from the same department to discuss terrorism.
“I am deeply disappointed,” he said.
“I really do believe that British ministers and parliamentarians should be afforded the same respect and dignity at USA airports that we would bestow upon our colleagues in the Senate and Congress.
“Obviously, there was no malice involved but it has to be said that the USA system does not inspire confidence.” Malik, who said the same thing happened to him last year at JFK airport in New York, added that he had received apologies from the US authorities following the incident.
He said he was stopped along with two other Muslims — “the other two were black Muslims, both with Muslim names,” he said.
Malik, 39, was elected as a lawmaker in 2005 and became a minister in Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s government in June.—AFP
Exactly. This is such a nothing story. I can't believe it actually made the news.
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http://tall-and-ginger.blogspot.com
Eloquently put. Sounds like he was trying to foster a little publicity for himself.
Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary. Mahatma Gandhi
It has something to do with discrimination, well i dont have any problems with that either, i have travelled from new york to sydney but never got an unusual encounter / experience. The point the poor guy wants to make is that he was questioned just because of muslim name despite being a UK minister, that a fact u cant label a whole lot of nation wrong when there are only 19(9/11) + 3(7/7) individuals involved. This is dividing us and we need to move forward. We need to open oyur heart and broaden our vision, just be friends, lovers, colleagues, brothers & sisters
zorder - let me know when you've found a way to get everyone understanding and loving everyone else, but 'til then I'm happy with security checks for anyone.
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http://tall-and-ginger.blogspot.com
Oh please. What a pathetic person. Why shouldn't he be searched. I am a white American and I get searched, I don't feel like I am being singled out.
Does Mr Malik think that Pakistanis and Afghans and Indians shouldn't get searched if they are muslim? I could be a white extremist, muslim or otherwise so why shouldn't I be searched.
If I remember right the last terrorist attacks and attempts in the UK were done by British muslims. Or is the point he is making that he is a politician and that politicians should be above suspicion. We all know that politicians are very trustworthy and would never do anything wrong. Don't we?
Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary. Mahatma Gandhi
exempt from security checks in the US...its done for the safety of all the citizens and those that travel on the airlines...ALL of them, not just the nonMuslims OR the Muslims...
Posted before...got detained for 45 minutes in Madrid 6 months after 9/11 just because I was American...and that was just on looks alone..i hadn't even checked in and gotten my ticket yet. It happens to everyone. and just for the record..I'd much rather they detain anyone to make sure things are all right...no sense in getting all upset about doing what everyone else has to do...no one's above the law of the particular land they are in.
I was hassled at customs in the UK because of the visas and stamps on my passport. It happens everywhere now a days.
"i'm not hurting anyone, i'm just telling my own truth, and if there is something wrong then maybe there's something wrong with you. why we all gotta look, why we all gotta act the same i say if you're born a lion don't bother trying to act tame." Ani Dif
understanding and love among all human family, we should resist the moves to divide human brethren
There are some diplomatic norms, would jack straw or any other MP from UK go through this process, u got to get the message right, yes we are living in a divided world
Hey, better safe than sorry. I think they did the right thing, whether he is a minister or not. Still it's better if he is disappointed, than a possible explosion on JFK killing hundreds.
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White, American woman, 8 months pregnant and with a 3 yr old...still got searched leaving US to come back to Doha. It happens.
He may be a Minister but he is still a treveller, the US has a right to scrutinize travellers.
I went through an airport in New York about three years back and was travelling inside Ami Land and the passenger in front of me came from my flight which came from Munich airport - they found a long knife in his jacket which had obviously been overlooked in Munich.
No matter what his intention with the knife was we just don't know.
In Hong Kong they took my whold mini manicure set off me going through the security.
Security is security no matter who you are.
I've been stopped numerous times when leaving the USA. Everytime my baggage was screened it was taken away for further inspection. Eventually I found out why - Large tubs of Jiffy Peanut Butter ! They show up on the x-ray as suspicious.
So maybe he was just packing a snack for the journey !
Is he annoyed because he's an MP and was stopped, or annoyed because he's Muslim and was stopped?
It's has though what he's trying to say is "THE USA DELIBERATELY STOPPED ME COS I'M MUSLIM", but he figured he should do it slightly more diplomatically by first complaining about being stopped even though he was an MP.
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http://tall-and-ginger.blogspot.com
Hey dont get emotional with minister of particular religion being put to security check. It is their law and they are doing what is good for them.
Couple of years back Indian NON-MUSLIM ministers were put to same ordeal... No one created a rucos for that.
Why do u get offended if anything normal happens to muslims ???
..**.. ""They walk among us. They vote & they even reproduce"" ..**..