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BOSSES at Edinburgh Airport have been slammed for asking passengers to reveal their religion during security checks.

Traveller Iain McGill told how he was asked to state his faith after being picked at random for a full body scan.

Airport chiefs say the question is voluntary and is designed to monitor the types of people being chosen for the scans.

But Iain says he was never told he didn’t have to answer, and a top expert in flight security was astonished by the airport’s approach.

Philip Baum, editor-in-chief of Aviation Security International, said: “I am totally against racial profiling of any sort as it has never successfully identified a threat.

“What happens if a passenger says they are Buddhist or Muslim or Christian? Would they all be treated differently to each other?

“Scanners play an important part in security, but asking someone what religion they are is nonsensical and serves no purpose whatsoever.”

(Image: Jon Super/AP)

Employment agency boss Iain, 36, of Leith, said he was asked for his age, country of residence and religion after he was scanned last Friday.

He added: “I didn’t make a fuss as I didn’t want to risk not being allowed on the flight.

“I was absolutely, definitely, one hundred per cent not informed I was not obliged to answer the questions.”

Nick Pickles, director of civil liberties group Big Brother Watch, called the questioning “bizarre and intrusive”.

He said: “It’s worrying that this passenger was not told it was a voluntary question.”

An Edinburgh Airport spokes-man said the question was required under Government guidelines to ensure certain groups are not singled out for the scans, which take naked images of passengers.

He added: “These questions are voluntary. This is clearly stated by our security staff.”