Muslim NHS worker is quizzed by police as she returns from honeymoon because cabin crew were suspicious of the book she was reading on Syrian ART

An NHS worker was questioned under the Terrorism Act at an airport after being seen reading a book on Syrian culture while on a flight to her honeymoon.
Muslim Faizah Shaheen was detained by South Yorkshire Police at Doncaster Airport after returning from the two-week break in Turkey.
The 27-year-old had been seen reading the award-winning Syria Speaks: Art and Culture from the Frontline a fortnight earlier while on the outbound flight by a member of the Thomson Airways cabin crew, and was reported for ‘suspicious behaviour’.
But after being held by officers for 15 minutes, she was released without further action.

Ms Shaheen, of Leeds, who works with teenage mental health patients to prevent them being radicalised, said she was ‘left in tears’ over the incident and felt ‘discriminated against’ because of her faith.

She told the Independent: ‘I was completely innocent – I was made to feel like a culprit.’

She added: ‘I became very angry and upset. I couldn’t understand how reading a book could cause people to suspect me like this. I told the police that I didn’t think it was right or acceptable.’

Ms Shaheen said she was queuing at passport control and notice officers watching her.

She was then approached after passing through and was asked to show her passport again to the police.

The officers presented with a leaflet explaining how officers had the power to question her under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act.

Ms Shaheen described the incident as ‘ironic’ because ‘she is trying to fight radicalisation and break the stereotypes’ as part of her job.

She added it was a ‘hurtful experience’ and questioned whether a non-Muslim would have received the same treatment.

Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Committee, said there was a ‘balance to be struck’ over reporting suspicious behaviour but that it was an ‘overreaction’, calling on the airline to apologise.

A spokesman for Thomson said staff were ‘compelled’ to report any behaviour they deemed ‘suspicious.

The spokesman said: ‘The safety of our customers and employees is of primary importance and our crew undergo general safety and security awareness training on a regular basis.

‘As part of this they are encouraged to be vigilant and share any information or questions with the relevant authorities, who would then act as appropriate.

‘We appreciate that in this instance Ms Shaheen may have felt that over caution had been exercised, however like all airlines, our crew are trained to report any concerns they may have as a precaution.’

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Police added: ‘On 25 July, 2016, officers from South Yorkshire Police stopped and examined a woman under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 at Doncaster Airport.

‘She was not arrested, she was held for 15 minutes and was subsequently released.’

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