Women grounded after full-body scan refusal at UK airport

A Muslim woman was barred from boarding a flight to Pakistan after refusing to go through a new 'naked full-body scanner at Manchester Airport on religious grounds. Her companion also declined to be scanned for 'medical reasons, reported Daily Mail on Wednesday.
The women were travelling together to Islamabad when they were selected to pass through the controversial security screen after checking-in at Terminal Two at the airport.
An estimated 15,000 people have already passed through the scanners, with the pair the first passengers to refuse a scan. Both told airport staff they were not willing to be scanned. They were warned they would not be allowed to board the Pakistan International Airlines flight if they refused.
The pair decided they would rather forfeit their 400 tickets and left the airport with their luggage. The 80,000 scanners were introduced at Heathrow and Manchester airports on February 5.
The X-ray machines allow security staff to see a 'naked image of passengers to show up hidden weapons and explosives, but it has attracted criticism for also showing clear outlines of passengers private parts.
Manchester Airport confirmed the passengers had refused to be scanned but said it had received no complaint from the women. However, civil liberties campaigners say the incident could form the basis of a legal test case to challenge the use of the Rapiscan device at airports.
Alex Deane, director of campaign group Big Brother Watch, said the organisation would represent the women if they wished to challenge the decision in court.
He said: 'People shouldnt have to sacrifice their health, their faith, their dignity, or their privacy in order to fly. People with health and religious concerns shouldnt be forced to go through these scanners if they have good reason not to. Foolishly, the government has ignored both issues and ignored privacy concerns to boot - they are in the wrong on this.
The scanners have been criticised by the human rights group Liberty and the UK governments own Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Only selected passengers are scanned. Security staff say they are chosen at random and not according to race, religion or ethnicity.
Councillor Afzal Khan, who was Manchesters first Asian lord mayor, said the vast majority of Muslims believed that any privacy concerns should be outweighed by ensuring they are safe when flying.
The Fiqh Council of North America issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, warning Muslims not to go through the scanners. 'It is a violation of clear Islamic teachings that men or women be seen naked by other men and women, read the order.