British minister held at US airport after anti-terror talk

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Oct 29, 2007, 10:18 GMT

(M&C) - Britain's first Muslim minister Shahid Malik was stopped and detained at a US airport after visiting the country to deliver an address on how to combat terrorism.

Mr Malik, the International Development Minister, said he was "disappointed" to have been detained for up to an hour at Dulles airport in Washington DC particularly since he was taken aside in similar circumstances in November last year at JFK Airport in New York.

"After a few minutes a couple of other people were also taken to one side," the Press Association reports Mr Malik as saying. "We were all Muslims - the other two were black Muslims, both with Muslim names."

Mr Malik said he believed British MPs should be shown the same respect as that accorded US Senators and Congressmen when they visited the UK.

"The abusive attitude I endured last November I forgot about and I forgave but I really do believe that British Ministers and Parliamentarians should be afforded the same respect and dignity at USA airports that we would bestow upon our colleagues in the Senate and Congress".

"Obviously, there was no malice involved but it has to be said that the USA system does not inspire confidence."

Mr Malik's luggage was searched by officials from the same department -- the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) -- whose representatives he had been meeting in the international conference.