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Targeting Muslims for security checks

17/08/2006
Letter published in The Independent

Sir: The notion of profiling of Muslims at British airports seems absurd to many Muslim faith-based groups such as the Muslim Council of Britain and they have issued a veiled threat of potential non-cooperation by the Muslim community in Britain in the event that such measures are put in place.

Nevertheless, in spite of being a Muslim male with an increased chance of being directly affected by the introduction of such security procedures, I wholeheartedly support them. With the majority of alleged, convicted and deceased (through suicide bombings) terrorist suspects being young Muslim males, it will only be logical for the police and security staff at the airports to focus on scrutinising individuals from similar backgrounds. The practicalities of such measures, however, may not be so simple, as Muslims derive from numerous ethnic, social and cultural backgrounds.

With moderate Muslims not prepared to challenge the radical face of Islam in Britain, it is time that they at least prepare themselves to put up with minor inconveniences, which incidentally would make air travel safer for them and their families along with all other passengers, since terrorists would not spare them on the basis of their religious background.

Its time for British Muslims to either take some responsibility for the actions of their co-religionists and stand up to extremism or put up with a changing Britain.

Dr Shaaz Mahboob, Hillingdon, Middlesex