Scotland airport police accused of spy trap on Muslims...

Special Branch has been accused of using stop and search powers to recruit Muslims as spies for the state at Scottish airports.

According to civil liberty campaigners, officers regularly stop and question Islamic people at airports before asking them to spy on their own communities.

Under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, officers can stop and search anyone they want, regardless of whether they appear suspicious. Refusal to answer a question is a criminal offence.

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“They told me I would not have access to a lawyer and had to answer their questions. They were trying to intimidate me and said: ‘We have very powerful people in this airport and we can do whatever we want’.”

The officers intrusively questioned them, asking if they knew any terrorists, were members of any Islamic organisation and which mosque they prayed at. After several hours of questioning, the pair were asked to spy for Special Branch.Ahmed added: “More and more people have said this is happening to them.” Full story...

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