JFK Security Accused of Racial Profiling

Security officials at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport have allegedly been accused of racially profiling Muslims by the American Civil Liberties Union and an Islamic group.

The allegations were reportedly made at a news conference held on 23 August, at which Dennis Parker of the American Civil Liberties Union stated that the price for racial profiling is too high to pay.

The news conference was convened by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and was aimed at highlighting the case of an Iraqi-born US family, Reuters reported. The members of the family concerned were reportedly held for six hours, questioned and searched at JFK airport.

Arwa and Sumia Ibrahim and their mother Nagham Alyaqoubi said they were held with 200 other people at JFK after returning from holiday in Jordan. The family estimated that out of the 200 people detained and required to go through the procedure 98% were Arab, South Asian or Muslim. According to the women, US Customs and Border Protection officials took their passports.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.