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Elderly Maltese detained at US customs

The greatly enhanced security precautions at airports and border control points in the United States recently took their toll on two elderly Maltese citizens travelling to the country.

This week the Washington Post reported that an elderly Maltese couple entering the US were locked up overnight in a detention centre. Even worse, according to Amnesty International – who had originally reported the case – the couple were allegedly denied food and water over the course of their incarceration, despite the woman being diabetic.

Amnesty also cited the case of an unfortunately named Osama Awadallah, who was allegedly maltreated by guards and prevented from sleeping all night, and an Egyptian who was assaulted by security guards.