LAHORE – According to classified government documents obtained by TheIntercept in 2014, over 700,000 Americans were placed on a U.S. governmentwatchlist, the Terrorist Screening Database.

Those on the list, many whom are Muslim or have a Middle Eastern orSoutheast Asian background and have no connection with any terrorist group,are singled out at airports by having “SSSS” stamped on their boardingpasses and are repeatedly searched by security officials.

A Muslim woman named Zainab Merchant, 27, who is based in Orlando Florida,was travelling to a speaking engagement when the Transportation SecurityAdministration (TSA) patted her down.

Zainab was pressurized into showing her pad to the officials when one ofthe officials insisted she needed to take a “deeper look”.

The officials later hid their badges by their hands and left due to thefact that they knew they would be penalized on such harassment.