British Muslim Woman demands apology after being detained for reading Syrian art book on plane
Categories: Latest News
Friday July 21 2017
The Evening Standard reports that a woman is forced to go to court to obtain an apology after being questioned under terror laws in July 2016.
Faizah Shaheen, a Muslim NHS professional whose work in mental health care involves looking for the signs of radicalisation in young people, was returning from her honeymoon in Turkey when she was stopped at Doncaster Airport for reading the book Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline.
A cabin crew member from Thomson Airways alerted the authorities, who detained and interrogated Ms Shaheen for 30 minutes asking her about the book, her work, and the number of languages she spoke.
She said: “I felt upset and distressed, followed by anger. I struggled to accept that I was being singled out for reading a book on art and culture.”
Ms Shaheen’s legal team believes she had been a victim of discrimination and was singled out because of her race.
Thomson Airways is yet to provide an explanation or an apology.