[fedelwfget]

I want to know what are the pros and cons of a pat down or body scanner which has been implemented in many western airports. I heard that it is compulsory if they choose to make you go through it and if one refuses you can't fly. This is more worrying for females but even for muslim males. What actually constitutes a 'pat down'? Has anybody had any experience

[whimpykid]

I've been patted down many times (even after the scanner) due to "loose clothing" : )

It was sort of invasive, but not that bad, at least with me. A man just swipes through you with his hands.

[fedelwfget]

so you go through a scanner and you get patted down? I thought it was an option of either one of them not both. Having said that it's not surprising in the USA (United Snakes of America). Man I don't like the sound of it. I would prefer going through the scanner then some man touching me up.

[Kennypor]

so you go through a scanner and you get patted down? I thought it was an option of either one of them not both. Having said that it's not surprising in the USA (United Snakes of America). Man I don't like the sound of it. I would prefer going through the scanner then some man touching me up.

Yea I too thought it was either of the two.

Do the women get patted down by females ?

[whimpykid]

so you go through a scanner and you get patted down? I thought it was an option of either one of them not both. Having said that it's not surprising in the USA (United Snakes of America). Man I don't like the sound of it. I would prefer going through the scanner then some man touching me up.

Normally you just need the scanner. But if they think your clothes are "too loose," they pat you down as well. At least, that's what I was told.

[whimpykid]

Yea I too thought it was either of the two.

Do the women get patted down by females ?

Yes, here in US, men pat men and women women.

[paulaglober]

Do the women get patted down by females ?

Yes, they do. In fact all of the airports I've been through, including Saudi, Pakistan, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, you get scanned as well as patted down. In France they even asked for the hijab to be taken off to poke through the hair. This was behind a curtain of course, so it was alright.

Just to add, France airport is the most horrible airport I have been too. If ever I have to travel, I make sure it isn't through France. Holland on the other hand was very nice and accomadating to a munaqabah.

[CtEkM8Vq]

if given the choice i would rather be patted down...havnt there been many cases of people sharing the images from scanning?

[tooratrack]

I have been patted down quite a few times. I can understand why it is intimidating to people. I am, fortunately or unfortunately, getting rather used to it. I find it a lot more common than body-scanning.

[Jasonstawnosaa]

Well, in the USA those new "X-ray scanners" are starting to pop-up at more and more airports. They basically show an X-ray image of your body on a screen, which I am personally not so fond of. You have the option to "opt-out" of this, you just have to say "I would like to opt-out" when it's your turn to walk through it. This only applies to airports with X-ray scanners and not the conventional metal-detector scanners. You will see the difference when you see one, it's a huge machine which you go in and stand inside with your arms spread out (I think), compared to a conventional metal-detector where you just walk under a rectangular arch type of thing.

Then they will yell out "male opt-out" or "female opt-out", or something to that effect. At which point you may have to wait anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes for someone of your gender to come. They will then walk you to one of the "pat-down" spots. At this point you will be given the option to have it done in a private room if you want, which also means even more time because they have to get a witness of the same gender to come with them since it will now be done in private. If you choose not to do it privately, then they will explain what they're about to do and go ahead with it then and there.

They first ask you to remove every single thing from your pockets, and your belt etc if you hadn't removed it already. Not even any pieces of paper or anything should be in the pockets. They then give you a run-down of what they're about to do, which is something to the effect of "sir I will start from the top of your body, I will pat down underneath your shoulders and throughout your torso, I will then pat around your waist and put my hands inside your waistband (yes, they do that), I will then pat down each one of your legs, lift your pant bottoms and while bringing my hands back up, I will pat between your legs (yes, it is what you're thinking)". Depending on the person doing it, they will either give you a very detailed speech before doing and then do a very detailed pat-down, or they will give a brief speech and do a brief pat-down.

Either way, so far I have opted-out of these X-ray machines in my travels just as a matter of principle, because I don't want anyone looking at an X-ray image of my body, especially since I'm not sure if the person looking at it is male or female. If I had a guarantee that no females were looking at that screen then maybe I would go for it.

However, each time I get patted down, I do think about whether it's better to get 'violated' like that (lol) or go through the X-ray machine. Sisters should definitely choose to have it done in private, brothers can probably get away with it being done in the open as long as it's a secluded type area and not in the middle of the public (though that has happened with me also).

In the end however all these measures are for the security of the general public so there's no point in having an 'issue' with them.

Alhamdulillah I have also noticed that in more recent times they seem to be very careful not to only choose "muslim looking people" for pat-downs & random checks. In fact for some reason I see more "old white people" (lol) being pulled out than anyone else. One time my brother was picked out for a random check (he has a beard) and he told me that the person who was telling him to step aside for the random check said it in a very 'nervous' and 'guilty' type manner, as if he was afraid that my brother would start screaming "WHY BECAUSE I'M MUSLIM!!???"....Lol.

Allah knows best.

[Beedcardabeme]

I strongly suggest that all females opt out of the body scanner if they are sent. The image is more detailed than you think, and defeats the purpose of you wearing hijab. A pat down is less invasive and since at many airports in the US there is a severe shortage of female officers, the person looking at the screen is most likely a male. And anyone who describes a pat-down(according to how it is typically done in usa) the genitals are NOT touched in a standard pat-down if your genitals were touched, you need to report that immediately.

[paulaglober]

Does this thorough pat down happen in other countries like Canada as well?

The countries I've been they usually just vaguely move their hands on the front, sides and back and then finish, get your bags.

[Kokomoxcvcv]

Recently there was a story in the South African media regarding Muslim women being told to remove their scarves for identification purposes, etc. at South African airports. Has anyone experienced these issues at other airports?

http://www.vocfm.co.za/index.php?opt...iat&Itemid=131

http://mg.co.za/article/2012-01-20-h...raise-hackles/

[paulaglober]

Recently there was a story in the South African media regarding Muslim women being told to remove their scarves for identification purposes, etc. at South African airports. Has anyone experienced these issues at other airports?

http://www.vocfm.co.za/index.php?opt...iat&Itemid=131

http://mg.co.za/article/2012-01-20-h...raise-hackles/

I recently returned from overseas. The only thing that was asked was to show my face before an ifrared screen. That was it. . I was quite surprised to hear about this incident.

[fedelwfget]

may I ask if the pat-down includes touching the private parts etc? i.e. how detailed is the pat down? Also with regards to the scanners I heard that the people monitoring them are in another location and the face is obscured??? How comes bro ibnmuhammad you have to go through both??? I'm figuring out that IF your face is obscured and the people are at another location the best option is going through the scanner which is less evasive than somebody touching me up. But people are saying that they don't touch the private parts but everything else??? I'm confused.

[whimpykid]

may I ask if the pat-down includes touching the private parts etc? i.e. how detailed is the pat down? Also with regards to the scanners I heard that the people monitoring them are in another location and the face is obscured??? How comes bro ibnmuhammad you have to go through both??? I'm figuring out that IF your face is obscured and the people are at another location the best option is going through the scanner which is less evasive than somebody touching me up. But people are saying that they don't touch the private parts but everything else??? I'm confused.

For me it was quite minimal, nothing compared to what bro Shu'ayb is saying. Maybe it's because I've already passed through the scanner and they're just doing it for extra precautions. Allahu a'lam.

[juliannamed]

In Toronto aiport (exiting Canada), I opted for pat down. It was not as bad as I thought.
He basically brushed his both palms around the limbs, just to ensure nothing is hidden under the clothing.
So he wasn't really 'touching' the limbs, just mildly brushing over enough to ensure that nothing is there between your clothes and the skin.

While for men it was done in the open, women had separate rooms.

[paulaglober]

In Toronto aiport (exiting Canada), I opted for pat down. It was not as bad as I thought.
He basically brushed his both palms around the limbs, just to ensure nothing is hidden under the clothing.
So he wasn't really 'touching' the limbs, just mildly brushing over enough to ensure that nothing is there between your clothes and the skin.

While for men it was done in the open, women had separate rooms.

Does this mean Canada has body scanners as well?

When I go to Canada, I am thinking of going through Toronto. How was the treatment toward Muslim there?

[Beedcardabeme]

If any sisters took their passport photos or liscense pictures without hijab or before hejab, you should get them redone with your hijab on. If you show a picture without your hijab then they will most likely ask you to remove it or pull it back to show your hairline. Maybe i some countries they dont care one way or another but i think maintaining your appearance in your photo will help iA

[Doncarlito]

Sister Sudoku (and everyone else), this information might be helpful for you: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/mediaroom/ba...-menu-6248.htm