The Hindu : International : Racial profiling of passengers provokes anger in Britain

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 16, 2006

International

International

Racial profiling of passengers provokes anger in Britain

Hasan Suroor

U.K. move to replace random checks

LONDON: A proposal to replace the current random security checks at British airports with a new system that would include racial profiling has been attacked by ethnic groups, especially Muslims, who say that it would amount to "criminalising'' people simply because of the colour of their skin or appearance.

The proposal, which would also involve checking people with "unusual'' travel pattern, is reported to have been made by the Department for Transport in the wake the alleged plot, uncovered last week, to blow up American planes in mid-air using sophisticated liquid explosives.

An overwhelming majority of those arrested in connection with last week's plot are of Asian origin, mostly British Pakistani youth, and one is of Caribbean background.

Supporters of the move argue that since people from certain ethnic backgrounds have been found to be more likely to be involved in such incidents it is only logical that they should be under greater scrutiny.

One aviation expert was reported as saying that it would be "irrational'' to stop and search an old white woman than someone who was more likely to resemble the "profile'' of the sort of people who have been involved in previous terror attacks or plots.

But Muslim groups called it "racist'' and said to suspect someone simply because he had a beard or was of Asian or Arab appearance was discriminatory.

"This kind of thing must be intelligence-led, not appearance-led,'' said Inayat Bunglawala, spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain.

There was no official comment.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International