INDIATV



Two Muslim women have become the first passengers to refuse to subject themselves to controversial 'naked' full body airport scans, it emerged on Wednesday, reports The Mail, London.

The pair - who security officials insist were selected at random - opted to miss their flight to Pakistan and forfeit tickets worth ?400 each rather than be screened.

One of the women refused to go through the full-body scanner at Manchester Airport on religious grounds while her companion also declined for 'medical reasons'.



The women were travelling together to Islamabad when they were selected to pass through the controversial security screen after checking-in at Terminal Two at the airport.

An estimated 15,000 people have already passed through the scanners, with the pair the first passengers to refuse a scan.

Both told airport staff they were not willing to be scanned. They were warned they would not be allowed to board the Pakistan International Airlines flight if they refused.

The pair decided they would rather forfeit their ?400 tickets and left the airport with their luggage. The ?80,000 scanners were introduced at Heathrow and Manchester airports on February 5.

The X-ray machines allow security staff to see a 'naked' image of passengers to show up hidden weapons and explosives, but it has attracted criticism for also showing clear outlines of passengers' genitals.


Manchester Airport confirmed the passengers had refused to be scanned but said it had received no complaint from the women.

However, civil liberties campaigners say the incident could form the basis of a legal test case to challenge the use of the Rapiscan device in airports.

Alex Deane, director of campaign group Big Brother Watch, said the organisation would represent the women if they wished to challenge the decision in court.

He said: 'People shouldn't have to sacrifice their health, their faith, their dignity, or their privacy in order to fly.

'People with health and religious concerns shouldn't be forced to go through these scanners if they have good reason not to. Foolishly, the government has ignored both issues and ignored privacy concerns to boot - they are in the wrong on this.'

There is one Rapiscan scanner in use in a trial at Manchester Airport's terminal two, which has seen 15,000 people pass through it.



A further two devices - one each for terminals one and three - have been delivered and are set to be operational within the next month.

The scanners have been criticised by the human rights group Liberty and the government's own Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Only selected passengers are scanned. Security staff say they are chosen at random and not according to race, religion or ethnicity.

Councillor Afzal Khan, who was Manchester's first Asian lord mayor, said the vast majority of Muslims believed that any privacy concerns should be outweighed by ensuring they are safe when flying.

He said: 'Hundreds of Muslim passengers have gone through without a problem. While I appreciate people's concerns for privacy, these steps are necessary for our safety and security.'

A Manchester Airport spokesman said: 'Two female passengers who were booked to fly out of Terminal Two refused to be scanned for medical and religious reasons.
'In accordance with the government directive on scanners, they were not permitted to fly.


'Body scanning is a big change for customers and we are aware that privacy concerns are on our customers's minds, which is why we have put strict procedures in place to reassure them that their privacy will be protected.'

Last month, Transport Secretary Lord Adonis stressed that an interim code of practice on the use of body scanners stipulated that passengers would not be selected 'on the basis of personal characteristics'.


Two weeks ago, a week after the scanners were introduced at Manchester and Heathrow airports, Islamic scholars in the U.S. said Muslim travellers should not pass through the scanners because they violate religious rules on nudity.

The Fiqh Council of North America issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, warning Muslims not to go through the scanners.

?It is a violation of clear Islamic teachings that men or women be seen naked by other men and women,? read the order.

?Islam highly emphasises haya (modesty) and considers it part of faith. The Quran has commanded the believers, both men and women, to cover their private parts.'

In the U.S., there are now 40 scanners in 19 airports and could be as many as 450 by the end of the year.

The powerful council of ten scholars that issued the fatwa is affiliated with the Islamic Society of North America.

Wats so funny about it??

You would allow someone to watch the parts of your females??

Females are checked by female staff, males are checked by male staff...

Dont you read, 15,000 people(including muslims) have already gone thru scanners. They dint had private parts ?
As far as me, i dont mind going thru it if its for security reasons, including my females. At least my religion has not preached me anything like that, neither do i wish to be blacklisted and miss the flight for stupid reasons.

yeh angrej bhi naa, manana nahin aata inhey, keh detey, "madam, u go in, we swear we wont look, pinki swear"

i dont thinks there is any thing wrong in this if it is done for security reasons
it is better than strip checking
but rule should be da same for every one
either every one passes or no one,it shouldnt be conducted on random ppl

this is a senstive issue

Stupid reason???? huh ????
@bold
Ab hur hindu
Swamiji jesa tu nai hota na jiski link kal upload hoi thi???
wo baqi muslims jo gaye unki alag thinking hogi jesi tumhari swamiji jesi thinking nai hai

Can you type it in genuine english ?

no!!!

aur zyada gentleman nai ban
sub samjh ata hai tujhe

I tried to follow that, but its not making sense.
And talking in english is the certification of being a "Gentleman"?
Btw, why do you refuse to be a gentleman then ?

Expecting WAY TOO MUCH

@ Topic - Wats wrong in giving the security check ? there arent Stripping u anyways...

How does Muslim Women give birth to a child ? i dnt think everybody does it in HOME

Hospital me koi to jata hoga...so why dont these rules apply there.....

I guess there's no point making Hu hulla over this....Give s scan n 3get it...they are nt gona blog it over internet / newspaper

akal hoti tumme
tu kya bat thi

mujhe airport mein naukri mil jaye
phir tumlog zaroor ana