The case of two Yemenis held after the arrival to Amsterdam after a flight from the US highlights the thin border among safety requirements and human rights. But till now, everything is ok.

Bundle of mobile phones strapped to a medicine bottle, as well as various knives- that is not luggage as usual for a transatlantic traveler. Yes, as US officials stated, none of the items were dangerous "in and of themselves", none of them was illegal but...But the explanation of a relative, that the traveler bundled the items he carried for each one of his friend is a little bit unsatisfactory. It deserves an investigation of authorities, who are right, that they have decided to take the Yemenis into the custody in order to determine, if they did not try to "inspect" the airport security in US before preparing potential terrorist attack.

Maybe, the authorities will find out, that they were just travelers, that this was really a coincidence. In this case, the Yemenis deserve an apology and maybe also some kind of material compensation. It could be paid from such fund from the gains of air carriers, who have to have also their interest on the safety of air travel and the customers on the planes.

But these cases have to be inspected- although if 99 percent of them the suspicion would not proven as a crime. The Dutch authorities are right. Not even human rights advocates can deny, that just one case from hundred, when terrorist attack would be committed, would be too much. 

 Zolo Mikes

Photo: ISIFA