Sir, The head of IT at our law firm is a Muslim. He is a gentleman in every sense of the word. His fanaticism, if he has any, is restricted to cricket. Last Sunday he went on a business trip to California. On arrival at Los Angeles he was detained and interrogated on suspicion of being a terrorist. He has no criminal record and had with him all relevant documentation to explain his presence in the US.

He was held for 28 hours. For the first 12 hours he was refused access to a telephone. After 16 hours, not having been given any food, he asked if he could have some. He was given ham sandwiches and, when he explained that he could not eat pork, he was told: “You eat what you are given.” He did not eat. He was eventually escorted back to the airport in handcuffs and deported.

Why he was detained in the first place is a mystery, but that is not my complaint. Part of the tragedy of the present situation is that innocent people are bound to suffer to some degree. What is inexcusable is the way he was treated while in detention.

Treating people in a manner which demonstrates a total lack of respect for them as human beings is itself a form of terror and is calculated to provoke terror. The US authorities would do well to bear that in mind.

Yours faithfully,
TONY WILLOUGHBY,
Willoughby & Partners,
193 Marsh Wall,
Thames Quay, E14 9SG.
May 19.

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