Swedish Cops' Hijab Shame

Swedish airport security chiefs have landed in hot water for tugging on a Muslim traveller hijab in public, rather than allowing her to remove the veil in private. The incident happened at Arvidsjaur airport in the north of the country where Saama Sarsour was undergoing standard airport security procedures when she was asked to remove her hijab. Sarsour asked to be allowed to take off the veil in a private room but a thuggish security gaurd grabbed her hijab and attempted to remove it from her head by force. Ms. Sarsour said:"The female guard asked me 'What's on your head?' Then the woman grabbed the scarf and started yanking it. I was totally shocked."

Sarsour, who works for the Swedish social security agency, decided to report the female guard to the police, who quickly decided not to open an investigation into the alleged harassment. Arvidsjaur Airport CEO Ralf Lundberg claimed his staff were merely doing their job. "They did their job. All have gone through thorough education and training to make sure no one takes dangerous objects through security."

However the biggest airport company in Sweden, Swedavia, said it was run-of-the mill to frisk passengers in private. Swedavia spokesman Klas Nilsson said: "It says in the penal code that frisking should take place in seclusion, that's why we have separate rooms for this."