Posted on 07/04/2008 11:35:46 AM PDT by Eurotwit
POLICE sniffer dogs trained to spot terrorists at railway stations may no longer come into contact with Muslim passengers – after complaints that it is against the suspects’ religion.
A report for the Transport Department has raised the prospect that the animals should only touch passengers’ luggage because it is considered “more acceptable”.
In the Muslim faith, dogs are deemed to be spiritually “unclean”. But banning them from touching passengers would severely restrict their ability to do their job.
The report follows trials of station security measures in the wake of the 2005 London suicide bomb attacks. In one trial, some female Muslims said the use of a body scanner was also unacceptable because it was tantamount to being forced to strip.
British Transport Police last night insisted it would still use sniffer dogs – which are trained to detect explosives – with any passengers regardless of faith, but handlers would remain aware of “cultural sensitivities”.
Critics said the complaints were just the latest example of minority religions trying to force their rules and morals on British society.
Tory MP Philip Davies said: “As far as I am concerned, everyone should be treated equally in the face of the law and we cannot have people of different religious groups laying the law down. I hope the police will go about their business as they would do normally.”
News of the security setback came as the Government yesterday admitted that installing 100 per cent airport-style screening at rail and Tube stations was “not feasible”.
Instead extra sniffer dogs and X-ray machines will be used to search passengers.
During the trials, passengers stopped in London had the exterior of their bags checked by dogs. But in Brighton, dogs patrolled the station concourse and were walked past passengers by their handlers.
The report concluded: “The use of sniffer dogs was generally problematic for Muslim respondents on religious grounds if there was the potential for the dog to make direct contact with them.”
When Muslims have washed for certain forms of worship, they would have to repeat the ritual if they came into contact with a dog.
One young Asian man told researchers: “We are not supposed to have dogs. It is against our religion.”
Another Asian man said: “I don’t mind dogs in the park or walking near me, but sniffer dogs? I don’t think that’s right, on the station, the way they use them.”
Massoud Shadjareh, chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission, said even dogs touching baggage would be an issue for a Muslim preparing to pray. But he stressed that it should be easy to allow dogs to check passengers without physical contact.
“There is a way of dealing with this and we just need to be sensitive,” he said.
In another trial on the Heathrow Express platform at Paddington station in London, there were instances when the body scan – which creates an image on a monitor – was considered unacceptable by female Muslims, the report said.
One Muslim woman complained: “Sometimes I wear clothing which is not so tight. It will be shown on (the monitor) and somebody is looking at it. It defeats the whole purpose of me covering up.”
The report, on five rail security trials in 2006, also showed that some Asians and black people felt they could be selected for tests because of their ethnicity.
A Transport Department spokesman said the use of sniffer dogs was a matter for the police. But he stressed that the report was only a conclusion of passengers’ views.
A British Transport Police spokesman said sniffer dogs would continue to be used with any passenger but officers would be considerate where appropriate.
He added: “We are obviously aware of, and sensitive to, cultural sensitivities. BTP officers do have the power to stop and search anyone under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act.
“This also covers the use of dog handlers and dogs, which are used to ‘indicate’ any substance they have been trained to detect.
“As a force we obviously look at any or all feedback about how people from all faiths and backgrounds view the use of dogs, and how we can incorporate that into how the dogs and their handlers interact with people.”
Announcing new security measures to screen Tube and mainline rail passengers, the Government said yesterday that surveys had shown the public would be unlikely to accept major delays to journeys.
People also wanted to ensure their personal privacy was protected.
British Transport Police said it was enhancing its existing stop and search capabilities with the use of X-ray equipment for screening bags, along with the deployment of more sniffer dogs. It said a proportion of passengers and their bags would be searched with minimal delay and inconvenience to the public.
Transport Minister Tom Harris said: “We will continue to work with British Transport Police and rail operators to assess the effectiveness and impact of these new measures.
“We will use this evidence, and that from elsewhere in the UK and abroad, to develop further ways of keeping the travelling public secure using proportionate measures.”
So don’t allow muslims on public transportation. Simple problem, simple solution.
Let each and every muslim go back and live in Turdistan where they belong.
lAUGHING HYSTERICALLY WITH HAIR STRAIGHT UP AND EYES WILD!
“In the Muslim faith, dogs are deemed to be spiritually “unclean”. “
Well, in my homemade personal faith, Muslims are considered filthy misfits of the human race and in need of removal......at least from my country.
I do have to admit though, I have learned much from the Muslims. I now know how to hate. In some terms, I am disgusted with myself for having that emotion, but it will now be lifelong.
I want them out of my country. I don’t care how they feel about that, and I don’t care where they are sent, I just want them gone. The trouble is, I feel very similar about the lib’s. So many misfits, so little time.
screw’m
“Why does the black community never notice that Muslims were the biggest slave-traders in history, and still practice slavery?”:
And, more African slaves went to the Arab world than to North or South America, but there are few descendants in those population. A possible reason is that the Muslims preferred that their male slaves be eunuchs. An interesting account of The Role of Islam in Slavery:
“Black Africans were transported to the Islamic empire across the Sahara to Morocco and Tunisia from West Africa, from Chad to Libya, along the Nile from East Africa, and up the coast of East Africa to the Persian Gulf. This trade had been well entrenched for over 600 years before Europeans arrived, and had driven the rapid expansion of Islam across North Africa.”
http://africanhistory.about.com/library/weekly/aa040201a.htm
So, your RELIGION doesn’t allow bomb-sniffing dogs?
How conveeeeeeeeeeeenient!
United Kingdom — Muslim 2.7%
Amazing how this stubby tail waggs the dog.
Well, I’ve heard that pigs, with their exceptional sense of smell and intelligence can be trained for the same job.
So, start using pigs to sniff for bombs in the airports, and just tell the muslims that they were the ones that didn’t want the dogs there...
Mark
“Deport them.”
I need to get two bumper stickers for my truck. One that says “Deportation” in Spanish, and one that says it in Arabic.
That should cover everything.
Tory MP Davies makes a profound statement: “everyone should be treated equally in the face of the law and we cannot have people of different religious groups laying the law down.”
the preceeding was illustrative and not for consumption in Canada
Actually i think the appearance of many Arabs shows that they did interbreed with their black slaves.
At what point do Christians and other faiths get to claim offense at the ridiculous opinions of our muslim citizens to the point that the muslims actually have to learn to live with something for the sake of diversity and acceptance?
If certain peculiar persons are not willing to undergo the same security precautions as the rest of the citizenry, perhaps they can just stay home. Who fives a fiddler’s f*&^ whether they ever go anywhere or not. As a concession, once a month run a screening-free airline access to a plane departing for some place in the world which matches better the religion and culture of these people and don’t let them back in until they are x-rayed and sniffed by dogs. Any submission to these people makes it easier for terrorists to thrive. Screw them and the camel they rode in on.
Why don’t you damn Brits fight for your country!
I am surprised the ASPCA (or British equivalent of it) has not come to the dogs defense, can you imagine, if you were a dog, having to smell some of these left hand a** wiping jerks, I really think it is cruel to the animals (pigs or dogs).
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