Colcam

Four actors who play al-Qaida suspects in a British movie that won a prestigious prize were detained by police at Luton airport as they returned from the Berlin Film Festival and questioned under anti-terror laws, along with two of the former terrorism suspects they play on screen.

Rizwan Ahmed, one of the actors, said police swore at him and asked if he had become an actor to further the Islamic cause, and was questioned about his views on the Iraq war by a female officer.

"She asked me whether I intended to do more documentary films, specifically more political ones like The Road to Guantánamo. She asked 'Did you become an actor mainly to do films like this, to publicise the struggles of Muslims?"

"The officers wanted to ask them some questions under the counter-terrorism act," a police spokesperson said. "All were released within the hour. Part of the counter-terrorism act allows us to stop and examine people if something happens that might be suspicious."

So from that we are to assume making award-winning movies of a critical nature is "suspicious" activity worthy of investigation by Bedfordshire police.

Or could it be, and it is a more likely explanation, the actors had the wrong color skin for white, racist, anti-Muslim coppers eager for a bit of harassment to brighten up an otherwise boring day?

Riz Ahmed in the LIP

See all recent posts.