New Zealand sisters detained at Australian airport because they're Muslim

Two Christchurch Muslim sisters are outraged at being treated as "a potential threat" at an Australian Airport while on their way to see their father win a medical award.

Canterbruy University student Nada Tawfeek, 21, and her sister Hannah, 18, were pulled aside at Brisbane Airport by multiple security guards and intimidated seemingly because of their religion.

The women, who were wearing headscarves, were in Queensland to attend a fellowship ceremony for their father, Christchurch gynaecologist Sherif Tawfeek,

"We have a security guard following us, no one else is being followed. He is literally following me and my sister's every move," Ms Tawfeek told TV ONE's Breakfast this morning.

As the pair went to collect their bags they were stopped again by another customs guard who asked them a series of questions in an "intimidating tone".

During their interrogation, a fire alarm also went off and passengers were told to leave their belongings and evacuate immediately, however the pair were told to stay in the building.

"An officer started looking at my sister's personal diaries and journals and reading through them," Ms Tawfeek said, adding her phone and photos were also scrutinised.

A supervisor told the pair Australian law entitled officers to go through property if they have "good reason".

"I believe they had no good reason to," Ms Tawfeek said.

"It's not the fact that I'm Muslim, or that they chose me because I'm Muslim that I'm upset about. It's about what happens after."

"I believe that no matter what your race is, whether you're Muslim or Christian and wherever you come from, you should not be treated the way me and my sister were treated."

She said her treatment was in part because western media "misrepresent Muslims."

"If you really want to make Australia a safer place you need to look at what sort of activities the Australian government support and involve themselves in abroad.

"If they are terrorising other people and making them feel marginalised and alienated it's obviously going to create a risk for them, so if they do want to make Australia a safer place they need to stop contributing in exactly what they are trying to protect Australia from."

Ms Tawfeek, who is Egyptian-born and English raised, returned to Christchurch early on Tuesday morning.



/129