It finally happened. A Muslim woman in Manchester refused to submit to a full-body airport body scanner and was thus barred from boarding her flight. She cited her Muslim faith, as to why she refused to submit to the scan. The woman, who was to fly to Pakistan, was randomly selected at the Manchester airport to be scanned. Another woman, acompaninig her, also refused to submit to the body scan, but because of medical reasons.

In the UK, passengers who refuse to submit to body scans once they’ve been selected for one are barred from boarding said flight. There’s no Plan B—you can’t say, “I don’t want to be scanned, but I’ll let you pad me down or whatever.” Scan or go home.

Trevor Phillips, head of the commission, has told Lord Adonis, the Transport Secretary, that there are concerns over passengers’ privacy and an apparent lack of safeguards to ensure that the scanners are used without discrimination.

These scanners are due to be introduced in all airports by the end of the year. Civil liberties campaigners have said the scans represent an invasion of privacy and their introduction may yet be challenged by the Human Rights Commission.

Another thing to note here that, airport authorities try their best to provide all means  of safety and enjoyment to their passengers, from onboard entertainment to wireless internet and even more. But why can’t they refrain from threatening privacy of their passengers. If someone don’t feels comfortable, what-so-ever reason is, with such kind of security checks, must be provided some alternate way to be checked. As in this case these women didn’t refused to be checked, airport authorities must have female security personals to deal with such cases, and could be padded and checked by these security personals for  any possible threat. I think it doesn’t cost much and is a easy way to solve the problem instead of making matters more worse. Because where there is a will there is a way.

Share This: