Jihadwatch
August 15, 2006 Top Muslim policeman slams UK "terror profile" plan Here comes the predictable response to this story. From Reuters, with thanks to Anon:
LONDON (Reuters) - A top British Muslim policeman has warned that any moves to "terror profile" airline passengers would create a new offence -- "traveling whilst Asian".
Media have reported the government is discussing with British airport authorities a system of profiling -- where security staff focus their search efforts on people they regard as suspicious on grounds such as ethnicity and religion.
Such a move could spark outrage among Britain's Muslims but aviation experts said profiling was vital to break the gridlock at airports, in chaos since last week due to tightened security after police said they foiled an Islamist plot to bomb planes.
Former British police chief John Stevens said airport bottlenecks could be reduced by careful targeting, with "young Muslim men" a focus.
Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Ali Desai, one of Britain's top Muslim police officers, said of the plan: "What you are suggesting is that we should have a new offence in this country called 'traveling whilst Asian'."
No, what they are suggesting is that those who may actually represent a threat receive particular attention.
"What we don't want to do is actually alienate the very communities who are going to help us catch terrorists," he told BBC Newsnight on Monday. If they really want to help catch terrorists, they won't mind this. No one who doesn't actually represent a threat, and is a loyal citizen, would object to putting up with some inconvenience in order to help stop future calamity and loss of life.
Sharply aware of the political sensitivities involved, Transport Department officials have refused to answer any questions on profiling proposals. "Our security measures at airports are layered. Some measures are visible. Others we are not prepared to discuss. That plays into the hands of terrorists," a department official told Reuters.
Many of Britain's 1.7 million Muslims accuse the police of unfairly targeting their community in their crackdown on terrorism after last year's suicide bomb attacks on London's transport system by Islamist militants that killed 52 people.
Since 2000, police have arrested over 700 people -- many of them Muslims -- under tough anti-terrorism laws but have brought only a handful to court. The vast majority have been released without charge.
Muhammad Abdul Bari, general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, was eager to dispel a siege mentality, saying "If you treat a community as a problem community, you are not going to get support from them."
Asked what he thought passenger profiling might provoke, he told Sky News: "It could end up in racism unfortunately."
"If the profiling is done on the basis of race and religion, it will be wrong, it is not going to work."
Why not? All the July 7 bombers were Muslims. All the plotters in the recent airplane case are Muslims. All were working on the basis of Islamic theology. Why must officials continue not to notice this?
( I suppose that in the US, spies could be recruited from CAIR membership? LOL!)
A good dhimmi never needs to profile, just bigger back scratchers.
"If you treat a community as a problem community, you are not going to get support from them."
Yes, Abdul from the MCB, next time you guys seethe and whine about ceramic pigs in windowsills, allah ice cream, carton characters or porking yerds, dhimmis will be sending out police SWAT teams for you ASAP to strike terror in the hearts of the disbelievers, and implement sharia in the west thru the backdoor.
Well, that's what he's after anyway.