The Hindu : International : British Minister searched at U.S. airport

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007
ePaper

International

International

British Minister searched at U.S. airport

Riazat Butt

London: Britain’s first Muslim Minister, Shahid Malik, had his hand luggage analysed for traces of explosives as he was about to fly home from Washington D.C. after high level talks on tackling terrorism. The U.K.’s International Development Minister was stopped at Dulles airport on Sunday and detained for 40 minutes by the Department for Homeland Security (DHS), whose representatives he had met during his visit.

“After a few minutes, a couple of other people were also taken to one side,” Mr Malik said. “We were all Muslims — the other two were black Muslims, both with Muslim names.”

He was also singled out and detained at New York’s JFK airport by the DHS last November. Again, he had been a keynote speaker at an event organised by the same department.

Mr Malik said that while he had put the 2006 episode behind him, he was “deeply disappointed” that the situation had been allowed to recur. “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 here.”

The experience would not deter him from returning to the U.S. to continue the fight against terrorism. “The United States is a great friend and ally and a country I have great regard for,” said Mr Malik, an ardent supporter of tough anti-terror legislation. — © Guardian Newspapers Limited, 2007

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