http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...S&attr=2015164

"A Muslim woman was barred from boarding a flight after she refused to undergo a full body scan for religious reasons. "




I find this story interesting because not only did this lady refuse a scan, but her travelling companion also refused a scan citing "medical reasons" - she recently had an infection??! ( what does that have to do with being scanned?)

Both ladies must have pretty firm principles to simply walk out of the airport and forgo their flights... How would they explain their decision to family members in Pakistan? I can "kind of" understand the position of one lady... for religious reason she disagreed with the scan. Pretty straightforward to explain to your mum.

But the other one... how will she explain her reasoning to her family ? It all seems a bit crazy to me.....

Just reading an article on the BBC about this. To be honest, the naked pic of the guy (with his love handles and smallish package) going through the scanner gives me the shivers.

If you are a terrorist wouldn't you just book flights through an airport that doesn't have scanners?

I guess this will happen more and more but it is a problem as you could be hiding all sorts in those dresses!

I once got taken aside and patted down going through Dubai as I was wearing a baggy black dress - so it's okay for them to do it to us but not the other way round!

Problem is that it could be anyone under there - male or female! That's why we need the retina and body scans.

To the OP - actually might be a way to solve the obesity crisis as you know everyone on the scanner is going to have a good chuckle or feel very ill when they look at your scan! Pre-flight diet anyone?

I'm very surprised that refusing the body scan didn't raise more alarm bells.

Someone refuses to be undergo security checks and is just allowed to walk away from the point of examination with a "religious grounds" excuse.

I assume that her baggage had already been checked, and as her bags can't travel without her, then the flight would probably have been delayed while her bags were found and offloaded.

If I had been head of security at that airport, she and all her possessions would have undergone extensive examination and she would not be allowed to leave the airport until I was sure that she did not present a threat.

I'm guessing that this would take several hours at least, and involve quite a bit of embarrassment and personal discomfort

Why would that be? She is perfectly entitled to refuse the security checks and therefore not board the plane. You can't then assume that she must be guilty because she didn't agree. That would put the airport security in the position of being accused of using coercion to get people to go through the scanners.

Isn't that what they are already doing? Go through with the scan or else you won't be permitted to board your flight and you will forfeit your airfare.

Right now it is airports. Next it will be train stations, sporting stadiums and then pubs/clubs.

This is very dangerous technology. Also a waste of time since terrorists have since starting carrying explosives inside their body either by way of implantaton of swallowing explosives.

So what's the real reason why these scanners are at the airports? Terrorism? I don't think so...

I would agree, you can't assume guilt in these circumstances.

Actually I was just wondering, How does it work when airport staff want to conduct a strip search ? Do they have to arrest you first, or serve a warrant? Do they need your permission?

I can't imagine the following actually happening:

Airport staff: Ok sir, please can you step aside and follow us to this room, we are going to strip search you because we suspect that perhaps you are carrying some illegal items.

suspect : Well... no actually I don't want to, for religious reasons. I think I might just go home instead, is that ok?

Airport staff: Ok, see you later.

In singapore/china and lots of asia you get patted down fairly 'robustly'

In China especially (Im a bloke) you get women security guards patting down male passengers and they are quite er... invasive. They certainly are not shy.

In india - all women go behind a curtain and get pat-down by a woman ( I assume ) in China / Singapore its out in open.

It is weird the different approaches and different cultures.

Its a fact of life now - I prefer to be searched and know that its at least a bit of a deterrent / protection than not having any at all and being entirely unprotected. On the scale and range fo things that the security services are doing its one of many steps. Can you imagine if you were not required to be searched? It'd be ridiculous. I think the guys that run the Israeli airline security had it right - they profile EVERYBODY that gets on their flights they do deep background checks on every passenger before they even get to an airport. Those guys should be running everyones airport security.

I agree wholeheartedly that if you refuse a security check - you should be kicked out the airport.

You are of course correct Iolande. Innocent until proven guilty.

However, it would be fair to tell people that if they ever refuse a body scan, the airlines will blacklist them for ever. In other words refuse once, don’t fly again.

People who refuse a scan can fly on “bomber specials”. And I would let them within 100 miles of a first world country.

We don’t have a “right” to get on someone’s aircraft. It’s a privilege. You meet the requirements or you don’t get on.

I hope so.

And you would be guilty of committing a false arrest. You have to remember the airport security are nothing more than private security guards, not Police officers and don't actually have any power of arrest or other powers.

Refusal to go through a scan is not a good enough reason to suspect someone of a crime. I think this refusal is the tip of the iceberg.

Airport security don't, they are not trained to and don't have the search powers. Customs officers are usually the ones that will do the strip search. And if an internal is needed they need a Doctor to be present.

Customs officers don't need permission. They will ask you and and if you refuse they have the power to use force if necessary. customs also have a power of arrest and so can arrest you.

Sorry I don't agree. I am a frequent flyer, we are fair paying customers not privilaged guests.

The bodyscanners infringe on civil liberties and many airport security experts have already said they will not work.

You don't think bodyscans to go into a local pub is a tad unnecessary?

I am a frequent flyer and I disagree with you. It is a service - there are terms and conditions - its a private enterprise. If you want to use that service, you accept the providers terms.

If it was access to a public service - like hospitals - then yes, call to arms and have civil uprising. The right to fly on a plane - no its tough, the security is there to stay and it will not be going away.