Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) warns passengers in all South African airports that there will be increased passenger searches.
Picture: Rayner Simpson – Unsplash
ACSA reports that ‘in response to the reaction from the Muslim community regarding the procedure for patting down headgear… security officers may conduct random searches at any time following the identification of personnel.’
‘Referring to an… incident at OR Tambo International Airport in which a Capetonian Muslim woman alleged she was humiliated and profiled for being dressed in a hijab, Mpofu said the incident was unfortunate but denied it was Islamophobia,’ reports IOL.
ACSA met with the Muslim Judicial Council and United Ulama Council of South Africa to amicably resolve the issue and ensure that all ‘checks are in line with international procedural requirements and do not amount to discrimination or targeting any specific group.
‘All passengers wearing headgear will be requested to take it off and this can be done privately by a security personnel and a pat down conducted.’
City Press advises travellers in the country who are flying anywhere to expect stricter security measures, and increased random searches, as ACSA improves its security measures in all South African airports.
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