Attempt to recruit a businessman in Britain to spy on the 'Palestine Action' movement

Businessman Shams Sadiq, 51, faced a harsh experience that began immediately upon his arrival at Manchester Airport in northern England on the dawn of May 11, 2026. As he was looking forward to returning to his normal life after a short vacation, authorities stopped him at the passport control section for an unexpected security interview.

Sadiq was subjected to strict procedures under 'Schedule 7' of the British Terrorism Act, a legal provision that grants security agencies broad powers to stop and search travelers at airports and border crossings. These powers allow for questioning even in the absence of any clear suspicion of committing a specific legal offense.

Sources reported that two plainclothes officers took Sadiq to an isolated interrogation room, where all his electronic devices and personal belongings were immediately confiscated. The investigators demanded that he provide passwords for his phone and personal accounts, threatening legal action if he refused.

Sadiq's interrogation lasted for more than three continuous hours, during which the questions focused on precise details of his personal and social life. The questions included the nature of the mosque he attends, his relationships with community members, and how he deals with anyone who might hold ideas described as extremist.

Several days after the incident, Sadiq received a call to retrieve his belongings, where he met the two officers at an airport cafe to collect his devices. Although the officers offered a formal apology for what happened, the case took a more serious and complex turn in the following days.

New chapters of security pressure began when Sadiq was summoned to Ashton Police Station to retrieve other devices that had been confiscated from him in October 2025. The officers then informed him that they had reviewed the contents of his messages and videos, claiming there was a link connecting him to the 'Palestine Action' group.

Sadiq was surprised by a clear offer from the officers to cooperate with them and work as an informant for the British police. The offer included promises of substantial financial compensation, in addition to overlooking any minor legal violations he might face in the future.

Sadiq expressed his extreme astonishment at this offer, especially since he faced no existing criminal charges, and the previous case for which he was stopped had been completely closed. He described the attempt to recruit him as an attempt to turn him into a 'secret agent' against human rights activists.

Following his categorical refusal to cooperate, Sadiq decided to resort to his legal team, who advised him of the necessity of exposing these practices to public opinion to ensure his protection. Lawyers have already begun to take formal steps by filing complaints against the counter-terrorism unit and the security agencies involved in the recruitment attempt.

This incident once again highlights the ongoing debate in Britain about the expanded use of counter-terrorism laws to target those who sympathize with the Palestinian cause. Sadiq hopes that his story will encourage others who have faced similar pressures to break the silence and expose these security practices.

I used to imagine the idea of a secret agent as it appears in movies, but I discovered that reality is completely different, and that is why I refused the offer.