i think they are far more a totalitarian state than the russians ever were.
an letter from a father in saudi arabia
Sunday, 17, September, 2006 (24, Sha`ban, 1427)
Brutality at Minneapolis
I am relating this traumatic experience of my teenage son by the brutish US immigration authorities at the Minneapolis Airport to serve as a warning to those Arabs who may wish to go to the United States. My son went to the US on Aug. 17, 2006 to explore the possibility of pursuing his studies at the Iowa State University. It has always been his dream to acquire an American school education.
As we were aware of the very strict screening by immigration officers, we saw to it that all his travel papers were in order. But what my son encountered was beyond our imagination. Arriving at the Minneapolis Airport on a Northwest Airline flight, he was whisked out of the line and interrogated like a wanted criminal who had been captured by the immigration authorities. After being subjected to indignities, he was held incommunicado for six days in a detention cell. Throughout his captivity he was not allowed to contact anybody outside his cell. All his explanations and pleas fell on deaf ears.
Meanwhile, back home in Saudi Arabia, we were wondering what had happened to him. His disappearance caused us sleepless nights, anxiety and untold inconveniences. For six days we were almost hysterical. It is no joke to miss your son. He was neither formally informed of the charges against him, nor of the reasons for such detention. He was prevented from seeking assistance, legal or otherwise, from anyone. To add insult to the injury, he was robbed of his laptop computer, an undetermined amount of cash and personal items. Finally, after six days of illegal detention, my son was deported to Saudi Arabia.
His shocking experience at the hands of the arrogant US immigration authorities has left him traumatized. The brutish treatment was uncalled for. They may have the right to choose who may enter their country; but do not have the right to treat anybody in the inhuman, abusive and ruthless way they treated my son.
Falah Al-Mubarak, Al-Khafji, published 17 September 2006