Religious organisations have called on the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) to resolve the long standing issue of Muslim women who wear headscarves being targeted by security at airports.
This comes after a notice was issued by Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha, informing passengers that individuals wearing any kind of headgear, including headwraps, “hijabs”, “burkas” and “niqabs”, will undergo a physical search.
“Upon request, physical searches can be conducted in an enclosed area,” said the notice on the airport’s social media platforms.
Acsa issued a statement, appealing for co-operation with airport security personnel as they undertake security procedures which it said are the internationally recognised standard operating procedures compliant with national aviation legislation and regulations.
“Our security protocols include random physical searches that are performed for all passengers after a certain number of people have passed a security search point at the airport terminal.”
According to Acsa, searches are designed to be conducted on all travellers, even when there is no trigger from the security checkpoint.
“Acsa calls on all travellers to note that when being ushered through the screening process by airport security personnel, they may be required to remove any headgear including fixed, religious and cultural headgear.”
Acsa advised that security personnel have been instructed to ensure that all searches are conducted in a respectful and courteous manner.
General Mzwandile Petros, group executive for enterprise security, said Acsa does not have any policies or procedures that discriminate against any passengers or airport users on the basis of gender, race, cultural beliefs, religion, or place of origin.
The Al Jama-ah Muslim party’s Asghar Khan condemned the profiling and victimisation of Muslim passengers, particularly concerning the wearing of the hijab and niqab.
He said these garments are essential to Muslim women, symbolising their commitment to modesty and religious practice.
“Al Jama-ah views Acsa's actions as a direct infringement on the rights of Muslim women and vows to vehemently oppose such discriminatory measures. Subjecting Muslim women to searches because they choose to follow their religious injunction is oppressive, and we caution Acsa to refrain from profiling Muslim passengers, especially our women,” said Khan.
Dr Faisal Suliman, chairperson of the South African Muslim Network (Samnet), said the organisation is concerned by the notice.
Suliman said Muslims, post 9/11, are acutely aware of the increased scrutiny, surveillance, physical checks and attention they get across the world including at airports in SA.
“I fail to understand why specifically the headgear of Muslims is singled out. There is no mention of, for example, a nun’s habit or wigs and long braids and hair pieces under which you can also conceal a similar sort of thing that could be concealed under a headscarf,” he said.
The notice is discriminatory and plays into the general Islamophobia and stereotyping that is prevalent in the West and sadly appears to be prevalent in Acsa’s thinking as well, he said.
“We find this notice discriminatory notwithstanding the claim that it is not. As the SA Muslim Network, we will refer this to the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities as well as the Human Rights Commission,” he said.
Jamiatul Ulama KZN head Moulana Abdullah Khan, said Acsa has been clear that it is not religious profiling and is not targeted towards Muslim passengers only.
“In light of their explanation and in due regard for safety and security, all passengers should comply. The religious needs of the same must be considered, and females should be taken to a private room while men can be attended to by men,” he said. Shaykh Riad Fataar, president of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), said a similar issue arose about two years ago and the head of Acsa came to Cape Town with proof that they are not just isolating members of the Muslim community.
He said Acsa checks everybody. “I went to Johannesburg last Saturday and I actually saw a guy with an Australian (cowboy style) hat and they asked the guy to take off his hat,” he said.
He said the MJC has an agreement with Acsa that if people are uncomfortable with body checks, including women who wear a face covering, they should be taken to an isolated room away from other passengers.
The Mercury