British Muslim MP says fine to "profile" passengers

With the failed US bombing igniting the profiling debate, a leading Muslim MP in the UK has said it is reasonable for Muslims to be singled out for security and this would not amount to their victimisation.

Labour MP from Birmingham Perry Barr Khalid Mahmood said it had become necessary to "profile" passengers from certain racial and religious groups to weed out possible terror suspects. "I think most people would rather be profiled than blown up... It wouldn't be victimisation of an entire community," he said.

Mahmood said it is reasonable for Muslims to be singled out for extra security checks at airports after the attempted bombing over Detroit. "If people want to fly safely we have to take measures to stop things like the Christmas Day plot. Profiling may have to be the price we have to pay. "The fact is the majority of people who have carried out or planned these terror attacks have been Muslims," he said.

The UK Border Agency said profiling was one of the security measures used in the case of people coming into Britain, but the Department of Transport refused to say whether it was used on passengers leaving the country.