One gets the feeling that this incident has more to do with bruised egos than anything else.

The blokes being questioned by police were both high profile persons and maybe their noses were out of joint because they were not recognized for who they were. And they were asked to show identification.

It is easy to play the racist card

Doc Holiday summed it up pretty well.Would Irfan Usef like to explain why many like El-Masri hide behind the veil of racism instead of confronting the real anti social attitudes that eminate from the Muslim community?

The police were in a very high crime area which often threatens their lives.Are we going to police these areas or just go the way of France?El-Masri cannot have it both ways.He cannot be a well paid footballer supported by the riches of our disciplined society and expect the police to treat areas of high crime with kid gloves.

If crime prospers,then El-Masri will become a poorly paid third world football player.Why does he not play sport for money in Lebanon for example?Hazchem is his own worst enemy.

Arjay, gee you really get off on putting the boot into Muslims don't you. r u sure you're not getting a little fixated?

Police officers have a tough job and you know the only thing they ask for on the street? RESPECT.

I heard on the radio someone who "knew one of the police officers" said that Hazem was reaching for his wallet when Houda stopped him. Hazem then watched on in silence as Houda interrogated the officers' motives.

If a police officer asks you for ID, you show respect and give it to him. You don't interrogate him. Houda, being a lawyer, can run rings around a police officers intelligence and probably did. Police often use their intuition and nose. Houda probably belittled the police officers by "putting them on the stand" there and then.

If you disrespect and belittle police officers, then I don't care what tears of victimisation you want to cry. Get over it. Show some respect next time.

Houda and Hazem should get the chip off their shoulders, stop nit picking, and look at the big picture. Just the other week we had Muslim radical Yvonne Ridley over here from the UK for an Islamic conference in Melbourne. She is on record as saying:

"boycott the police and refuse to co-operate with them in any way, shape or form. This goes from asking the community copper for directions to passing the time of day with a beat officer."

Excellent article.

Thanks Ryan

Rainer I am fixated on the greatest threat to our freedoms since WW2.If you think that the chaos and violence in Europe and the Middle East is a normal progression of intelligence then we as an so called smart species are headed for destruction.

Religion is a doubled edged sword.It gives us comfort from a reality that daily lurks on our shoulders and inspires notions of the"chosen people" which create this suspicion and hate .The reality is called survival.Nothing defies this .Only family love and bonds make it palitable.