A lot of talk is going on these days about insults and humiliation suffered by Saudis at British airports. I was told of a 70-year old Saudi woman subjected to a humiliating body search carried out by an Asian British policewoman. Even the underwear of the sick woman was searched.
Until recently we believed that Europe and America were upholding their respectable way of dealing with visitors, something they maintained for years despite disturbances and inconveniences here and there. Even in times of no diplomatic representation, Arabs traveled freely to those places.
I think the European and American enthusiasm for fighting terrorism has gone too far. We don’t necessarily long for the broad smiles with which British immigration officers formerly greeted visitors. All we want is a little dignity and some humane treatment.
A friend of mine who recently went to America told me he gave the authorities who asked for his address the address of a relative who lives in New York. For some reason, however, he did not go to stay with that relative but went somewhere else. Two days later, secret agents knocked at his door, demanding to know why he had changed his address. Before coming to where my friend was staying, the agents had visited his relative who gave them the new address.
Taxpayers in the United States are suffering financially as a result of the increasing worry and anxiety that has gripped the country following the Sept. 11 attacks.
It is deplorable that despite its long history of dealing with the Arab world, its experience in fighting terrorism and its ability to differentiate between right and wrong, Britain is following in America’s footsteps as is evident from this rude treatment of non-whites. Britain can no longer tell the difference between a friend and a foe.
