LONDON – A British Muslim woman returning home from a vacation in Turkey claimed she was arrested by police because her name is similar to that of Daesh bride Shamima Begum.
Shamina Begum, who was returning to Manchester Airport, said she was questioned if she “thinks bombing is okay,” and she was urged to seek help from UK Border Force personnel because her name matched that of “someone of interest.”
Begum, who was traveling with her partner, claimed that she was arrested by five officials under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act of 2000.
Her phone and bags were also seized, she alleged, before her DNA and fingerprints were obtained and she was questioned for three hours about her name, Muslim faith, and even her mortgage.
Begum described her encounter as “humiliating,” claiming she was forced to discharge herself in an airport bathroom in an unlocked cubicle with a male officer there, all while on her period.
“I’m traumatized,” she told the daily The Independent. “At first, I was perplexed — I’d traveled to many places before and never had this problem,” she added.
Begum was eventually freed, and no more action was taken against her.
“I cried all the way from the airport to my house after I was let go, and I couldn’t face the outside world for about four weeks,” she claimed. “In the days following this, I’d wake up every day wishing I hadn’t.” I am not a terrorist and do not deserve to be handled in this manner. It was a dark and horrible time, and it still has an affect on me.
“I couldn’t say anything because it was so humiliating.” It’s simple for cops to send out leaflets explaining what a Schedule 7 stop is…but what about aftercare? It took me six months to adequately discuss it.”
Begum protested about her treatment to Greater Manchester Police, who declined to comment on the issue, and her complaint was not upheld by police officers who stated the stop was appropriate and handled correctly.
She has already filed an appeal against the verdict, adding, “If it’s not because of my race and religion, why aren’t police stopping every white person who walks through the airport?” Brown and Black individuals are always singled out.
“It wasn’t just that I was stopped; it was the questions I was asked.” “I am not a terrorist because I am a Muslim with a Muslim name and background.”
Shamima Begum was 15 years old when she left her London home, went via Turkey, and entered Daesh territory before having her British citizenship revoked in February 2019.
She is currently in a Syrian camp for former Daesh brides and their families, and she is suing the British government to have her citizenship revoked.
