Homeland Security apologizes for strip search of Muslim woman

[sabra]

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061228/APN/612282059

Homeland Security apologizes for strip search of Muslim woman
The Associated Press

<snip>

Safana Jawad, 45, a Spanish citizen who was born in Iraq, was detained on April 11 because of a suspected tie to a suspicious person, authorities said. Jawad was taken to jail, strip searched and held for two days before being deported to England.

...

"On behalf of the Department of Homeland Security, I offer you my sincere apology for having to undergo a strip search," wrote Timothy J. Keefer, acting chief counsel for the department's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

...

Jawad was traveling to Clearwater to visit her 16-year-old son, who lived with her ex-husband, Ahmad Maki Kubba. Kubba, an Iraqi exile and American citizen for 27 years, was praised last year by Gov. Jeb. Bush for organizing a group to vote in Iraq's election.

Kubba said his ex-wife's detention prompted his son to move to Spain.

"I lost my son because of what happened," Kubba said. "My son wanted to be in the U.S. Navy, and he speaks both English and Arabic. He would have been just what they are looking for. What they did to Jawad was unfair and is hurting America."

[Taverner]

1. Well to be honest, if we're all getting strip searches..

I see no reason why she should be exempt.

However, I'm not sure giving us all strip searches is such a good idea....

[madeline_con]

2. I agree.

It's part of being booked, unfortunately.

[TexasProgresive]

5. It sounds to me like the charges were bogus and she

shouldn't have been arrested, strip searched and deported. Why would they apologize after ruining her trip to visit her son. To imitate my wife's Polish grandmother I spit on the boot of Homeland security and shout for the whole world to hear, "Gestapo!"

[madeline_con]

6. Absolutely. Nonetheless, part of being detained...

whether rightly or under bogus circumstances, is a search for weapons and contraband. It goes with the territory.

[Taverner]

8. Yep

As someone who has been arrested for criminal misdemeanor, it goes with being booked.

Now the question is - was she strip searched by a woman or man? I think the searchee has the right to request a person of the same sex to do the search.

[TexasProgresive]

10. So why the apology?

A friend of mine was detained an held 72 hours by the Harris County, TX sheriff's office and beaten in the late 60's. They thought he was someone else. They just dumped him out on the street with not even a thank you ma'am.

[madeline_con]

13. Probably because noise was made.

Otherwise, it would have been another unreported case of abuse of power.

[TexasProgresive]

4. You've been strip seached?

[Taverner]

7. You know what, I have

anal cavity probe and all.

It was part of being booked in Nevada. Didn't like it, but to be perfectly honest the part I liked the least was the entrapment. But that's a different story.

[derby378]

3. The apology is not enough...

I want the Department of Homeland Security abolished.

And I will not rest until said abolition is a major plank in the Democratic Party platform.

[BushOut06]

11. I've always hated the term "Homeland Security"

It just reeks of fascism.

[kestrel91316]

12. I refuse to utter the name. It IS fascist.

[Joanne98]

9. STOP THE DRUG WAR!

My thread on the subject...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2985726