October 30, 2007	Tuesday	Shawwal 17, 1428

LONDON, Oct 29: Britain’s first Muslim government minister said he was “deeply disappointed” after his luggage was searched for explosives at a United States airport as he returned from official talks.

International Development Minister Shahid Malik was detained for about 40 minutes at Washington Dulles airport on Sunday by the Department of Homeland Security after meeting officials from the same department to discuss terrorism.

“I am deeply disappointed,” he said.

“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.” Malik, who said the same thing happened to him last year at JFK airport in New York, added that he had received apologies from the US authorities following the incident.

He said he was stopped along with two other Muslims — “the other two were black Muslims, both with Muslim names,” he said.

Malik, 39, was elected as a lawmaker in 2005 and became a minister in Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s government in June.—AFP