RJ
Raeesah J

1 reviews | Active since Oct 2021

05 Apr 2024, 23:18

Racially profiled - OR Tambo - airports company South Africa

I am a frequent traveller between the various provinces in South Africa due to the nature of my work. I often travel via OR Tambo.

I recently experienced inappropriate behaviour from the security. I walked through the security scanner with no issue it did not beep , as I went to pick up my bag at the end of the scanner the security grabbed onto my head and begun to search me without any prior warning. I am a Muslim female using an head scarf and the security proceeded to feel up my scarf. I advised her that the scanner did not beep or detect anything hence why did you suddenly pull me aside in this abrupt manner without warning, she then advised me that I was meant to take out my head scarf, I advised her due to cultural reasons I will not remove the head scarf , she proceeded to advise me that since I didnt want to remove it hence she had to search me. (She advised this to me after shoving her hands on my head!).

I emailed airports company South Africa and asked them for feedback and to how this possibly occurred, I did not pose a risk or a threat , the scanner did not beep hence gave me clearance when I walked through. I have travelled both nationally and international several times and never have I ever been violated in this manner for using a head scarf which is my constitutional right as a practicing Muslim living in South Africa.

I asked them to advise how this is considered acceptable behaviour . I was racially profiled ! South Africans are not known to be Islamophobic and intolerant to religion hence why was I violated without consent even though I did not pose any form of threat and risk?

Thousand of Muslim patriots travel via OR Tambo daily I have never see this happen before yet I was signalled out two weeks had passed and airport South Africa to date has not given me a plausible reason as to why this happened , I have followed up and to date I did not receive a copy of their sop regarding the use of a head scarf after requesting this , the matter has not been investigated and my emails I ignored.

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