UNITED
KINGDOM – A Muslim NHS worker was detained at a UK airport and questioned under
terror laws after a cabin crew member spotted her reading a Syrian culture
book on board her honeymoon flight.

Faizah
Shaheen, who helps prevent teenage mental health patients from becoming
radicalized, was returning from honeymoon in Marmaris, Turkey, when she was
stopped by South Yorkshire Police at Doncaster Airport on July 25. 

The
27-year-old was pulled over because a Thomson Airways cabin crew member on
her outbound flight had reported her for suspicious behavior.

Police
officers questioned her for 15 minutes under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act
and told her the suspicions related to the holiday book she had been reading
– Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline.

The
award-winning book by Malu Halasa is a collection of essays, short stories,
poems, songs, cartoons and photographs from Syrian authors and artists. 

Shaheen
said she was left angry and in tears by the experience – and with a feeling she
had been discriminated because of her faith.

She
said she now intends to make formal complaints against the police and Thomson
Airways.

 “I was completely innocent – I was made
to feel like a culprit,” she said.  “I
was queuing at passport control and saw police staring at me. I just got
through passport control and then two police officers approached me and took me
aside and asked me to show my passport again.” 

“I
asked what was going on and they said I had been reported due to a book I was
reading and was to be questioned under the Terrorism Act,” she added. “I became
very angry and upset. I couldn’t understand how reading a book could cause
people to suspect me like this. I told the police that I didn’t think it was
right or acceptable.”

She
was given an information leaflet explaining that Schedule 7 legislation is used
by police to determine whether a person appears to be or has been involved in
terrorism.

“I
was asked what I do,” she said. “I told them I work as a child and adolescent
mental health services practitioner for the NHS. 

“Ironically,
a part of my job role is working on anti-radicalization and assessing
vulnerable young people with mental health problems are at risk of being
radicalized.

“I
said that to the police. I’m actually part of trying to fight radicalization
and breaking the stereotypes.

 “It was a very hurtful experience to go
through,” she said. “I fight for different causes and then to be victimized and
experience this first-hand and made me realise how bad it is.

“Instead
of reminiscing about our honeymoon I am left talking about this
experience. 

“I
do question if whether it would be different if it was someone who wasn’t
Muslim.”

The
book she was reading was the winner of an English PEN award. Shaheen bought it
after it was recommended to her at Bradford literature festival in May.

Thomson
Airways said its crew are compelled to report any concerns as a
precaution, but it understood Shaheen’s frustration.

 “Our crew undergo general safety and security
awareness training on a regular basis. As part of this they are encouraged to
be vigilant and share any information or questions with the relevant
authorities. We appreciate that in this instance Ms Shaheen may have felt
that over caution had been exercised. However, like all airlines, our crew are
trained to report any concerns they may have as a precaution.,” the airline
said in a statement.