Racial profiling
Published by deviousdiva September 4th, 2006 in Personal.The controversial and racist practice of racial profiling is quite commonly used in American airports especially now with the fear of terrorist attacks. However, here in Greece, the majority of people believe that racial profiling will not be adopted. Sudan-born Ali Had Mohammed is a cardiologist at the state hospital in Rethymno on the Greek island of Crete. He told the Athens News that
As soon as [US airport police] had seen my dark skin and learnt that I was born in an Arab country, they took me out of the line and started to ask me questions for more than an hour about the purpose of my travel. The 54-year-old doctor says he has never felt "targeted" by airport police in Greece
Anwar Iqba, who is one of the founding members of the Migrants Forum said that he was not aware of any people of Pakistani origin being targeted at Greek airports. Sadi Ayoubi of the Muslim Union of Greece said that
he has never felt targeted by Greek airport security because of his name or the way he looks
Mohammed Rashad, the secretary-general of the local Egyptian community, said that he had inquired about the travel experiences of several members of the community
They all told me that they were asked questions like whether it's their first time going to Egypt. But all foreigners were asked questions like this, so they did not feel discriminated against and they said that they were not humiliated… but while they all understand that this is for security, they still feel nervous
Athens-based criminologist Frosoula Papademetriou said
Racial profiling is strictly a racist practice. It's very controversial and it has proven to be ineffective as far as deterring crime. What it does is cause havoc at airports and much more animosity that already exists between 'whites' and anyone who looks Arab. It creates problems because it makes Arabs feel that they have been dealt a wrong hand
Amnesty International has condemned the use of racial profiling in the United States saying that
such measures have led to a growing culture of targeting Muslims
Costis Papaioanno, the AI spokesperson in Greece added that
We are very influenced by what we see on television and we automatically think that a terrorist is going to be Arab or Muslim, but that may not be true. Terrorism is not something that is exclusive to the Muslim or the Arab population
Read the full article from Athens News
Last year I was worried when the love of my life travelled to England. He would fit the so-called terrorist profile to the letter. Thankfully, nothing happened to him but it is terrible to realise that we all think in those terms now. In my opinion, we have done exactly what the terrorists want.
I remember speaking to family and friends after the London bombings and they said to me that they would not allow terrorism to change their lives. That they would go about their business in the same way as they always had. That is being changed for us. By the way our governments and the media are handling the threat of terrorism. We are now living our lives in fear of our neighbours, our colleagues, our fellow passengers. Of Muslims and of anyone of Middle-Eastern descent.
It seems (for now) that there is a big difference in the way people are treated at Greek airports compared to British or American ones. What have been your experiences ? How has your travel experience changed since 9/11 ? Any stories ?
A couple, friends of mine, both Egyptian came to greece recently and had no problems at all. In fact they complained on how people on the street kept thinking they were greek and spoke to them in Greek. Interesting article via flubberwinkle’s blog: http://flubberwinkle.blogspot......in-us.html
I think such profiling in Greece would be quite difficult because of the blend of features among Greeks. In America and England, the contrast between white and "not white" has always been an issue with regards to profiling of all kinds, not just at airports, and not just since 9/11.Of course, every time Thanos and I travelled through U.S. airports after 9/11 - I was ALWAYS pulled to the side, had my shoes checked, my carry on bags, everything - and I’m a crippled white girl! We always found that rather amusing, and maybe had some hope that there was some "randomness" to their checking. But of course, we are talking about Nashville airports, which don’t get the kind of traffic bigger U.S. airports get.
suggest everyone see the movie,:
………….. V FOR VENGEANCE………………
HURRAH FOR THE 5TH 0F SEPTEMBER….!
…..suggest they travel and wear the V mask from the movie
that’ll get them , and their BIG BROTHER TACTICS .
ONE FACE , ONE PEOPLE , ONE PLANET……………
USE RACIST “V” TACTICS WITH ALL POLICE STATES
IF YOU HAPPEN TO DISAGREE WITH THIS COMMENT
I SUGGEST YOU COLOR YOUR FACE THEN
ONE QUARTER BLACK
ONEQUARTER WHITE
ONE QUARTER RED
ONE QUARTER WHATEVER YOU LIKE
USE NON HARMFUL TO ANIMALS BODY PAINTS,
this is my contribution , for something to do ,,at airports
=Z=
The first time I returned to the U.S. after 9/11, I had been in Greece for about 18 months continuously. I had no problems in Greece or in Paris (where my flight stopped over, and coincidentally, was the day of the "shoe bomber" there) - in fact, great security in Athens. When I arrived in the U.S., as an American citizen, I had four huge bags with me, since I had been away for so long, and I was singled out in my own country of birth precisely because of my luggage and the fact that I had been in Greece for almost 2 years. I was pulled into a room and EVERYTHING was gone through - my photographs, newspapers and magazines, and all was extensively questioned and commented on. And I’m talking about a MAJOR airport. Some of the magazine and newspaper articles had my picture in them, and that is what saved me…In addition, I had gotten my Greek man a U.S. visa to visit (good for 5 years) in December 2000. However, since he works for a Greek newspaper, Bush has not allowed him to return to the U.S. since 9/11 - fear of foreign journalists/photojournalists. The U.S. government has known about "liquids" as potential threats for a very long time. This entire situation - whereby you can’t bring water on a plane but can purchase it on the plane - is bogus. Racial profiling, as stated previously, has been a practice employed, not just at airports, but widely in every facet of life in the U.S. However, I ask you, what does an "American" look like? Is it Hollywood’s ideal, or the real deal? What race is American? I can’t answer that question, as I don’t know who looks "American." I surely don’t.
I think they should profile all Supermodels, NBA cheerleaders, and any other extremely attractive ladies. It’s such a shame that folks of color have been profiled for so long. I say throw it back to the white man!! (or woman).
I’d sure like to be there when those supermodels have to take off their clothes and submit to a search. It would be good to humble them when they themselves have made the black man suffer.
P.S. This was just a light attempt at humor but really would anyone complain if this type of profiling was activated?
P.S.S. Keep up the good work Diva!!! We need people like you to bring the injustices to the light.
Justice for All> You actually advocate sexual harrassment?
DD> A few weeks ago here in the UK, two Asian guys were kicked off a flight because the morons on board kicked up such a fuss about the fact they were Asian, ‘looked dodgy’ and spoke in a language that wasn’t English.
Great post! I personally dont think Greek officials will participate in much racial profiling in Greece, either.
I thought it very odd when I landed in Greece, and was allowed to literally just walk out! I even went searching for authorities in the airport, thinking I needed to, not knowing the routine in Greece. I kinda wanted my passport stamped from Greece, but they never did!!