Research: Asians, Muslims targeted at Scottish airports

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Friday 28 Aug 2015 - 13:58 Makkah mean time-13-11-1436 Edinburgh, (IINA) - A new research study showed that Muslim travellers fall victims to disproportionate security checks at Scottish airports, according to World News Bulletin and Herald Scotland news. The integration of Muslims in Scottish society is being undermined by disproportionate targeting of Asian and Muslim travellers in airports and other security spaces, it was found in a new research. A study carried out by Durham University located in North East England warned that a belief that police and security workers use racial profiling was widely held within Muslim communities, with groups regularly sharing "airport stories" of nightmare travelling experiences. The research carried out in Edinburgh and through a survey of other studies in Glasgow and the rest of Scotland, found Asian immigrants and Scottish-born Asians alike felt Scotland was broadly a welcoming place. However many told researchers that in airports they felt like a "suspect community", with travellers expecting to be disproportionately stopped, searched and questioned. Dr Stefano Bonino of Durham University's school of applied social science said Asian people's sense of equality and feelings of belonging to society were being severely undermined by a security focus on their ethnicity or religion. "Contact with police and security officers at airports constitutes the main area of concern for Scottish Muslims," he added. The study, Visible Muslimness, points out that there was a 14 percent decrease in racist incidents in Scotland in 2012-13 compared with the previous year. While some Muslims feel their religion or the way they dress is a hindrance, for instance in finding a job, others praised the independence of Scots in not buying into negative perceptions of Islam. The research suggests that the disproportionate targeting of Asian and Muslim travellers is undermining the integration of Muslim immigrants into Scottish society. Dr Bonino noted that some Muslims felt their identities were undermined on three levels - as their religion was misrepresented, their Scottish or British identity unrecognized and their status within Scottish or Muslim society often ignored. Dr Bonino argues that power provided under the Terrorism Act 2000 is used to justify targeting people of Muslim appearance. "The airport checks have resulted in Muslim men feeling as though the perception of them as inherently suspicious has become normalized," he said. From their side Edinburgh airport officials refute such claims. "We work hard to make sure that all of its passengers have a good experience when travelling through Edinburgh airport. Diversity training is a core part of security officer training to ensure all are treated with respect and understanding. Local imams and leaders of the Muslim community have visited the airport to view our security processes and discuss any concerns as part of an ongoing dialogue in improving our service for all," Edinburgh airport spokesperson said. Scotland is home to around 100,000 Muslims, which makes up 1.7 percent of total population. SM/IINA