Woman 'told to prove she was lactating' at German airport
Gayathiri Bose from Singapore says she was humiliated after travelling alone with a breast pump
A woman says she was "humiliated" at Frankfurt airport after police allegedly forced her to prove she was lactating by asking her to squeeze her breast.
Gayathiri Bose, from Singapore, told the BBC she was exploring legal action after the "traumatising" experience.
She said she was stopped after police became suspicious because she was carrying a breast pump but travelling without a baby.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The pump was spotted in her carry-on bag when she went through the x-ray machines at security.
She said: "[They had] an incredulous tone. 'You are breastfeeding? Then where is your baby? Your baby is in Singapore?'"
When the police did not believe the item was a breast pump, Bose was led by a female officer into a separate room for further questioning.
"[The officer] asked me to open up my blouse and show her my breast. She then asked how come I didn't have anything attached to my breast if I was lactating and expressing breast milk," she said.
"I said, 'There is no such thing that is [permanently] attached; we usually place the pump to our nipple and the machine does the job.'
"She wanted me to show her by hand-expressing a little."
Bose said she complied and squeezed her breast. She added: "I was just in shock. I was going through the motions. I was all by myself as well and wasn't sure what would happen to me if they decided to make trouble for me.
"It was only when I came out of the room that I began to slowly understand what had just happened. I just started to cry. I was terribly upset."
The German federal police unit at Frankfurt airport did not provide a comment to the BBC on Bose's allegations, but a spokesman said: "If a suspected explosive is detected at an air safety control point, the baggage and the person must be searched.
"The measures you have described for a breastfeeding mother are clearly not included."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
5 heavy-handed cartoons about ICE and deportation
Cartoons Artists take on international students, the Supreme Court, and more
By The Week US
-
Exploring the three great gardens of Japan
The Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
By The Week UK
-
Is Prince Harry owed protection?
Talking Point The Duke of Sussex claims he has been singled out for 'unjustified and inferior treatment' over decision to withdraw round-the-clock security
By The Week UK
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
By Abby Wilson
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Ukrainian election: who could replace Zelenskyy?
The Explainer Donald Trump's 'dictator' jibe raises pressure on Ukraine to the polls while the country is under martial law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Why Serbian protesters set off smoke bombs in parliament
THE EXPLAINER Ongoing anti-corruption protests erupted into full view this week as Serbian protesters threw the country's legislature into chaos
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
Germany's conservatives win power amid far-right gains
Speed Read The party led by Friedrich Merz won the country's national election; the primary voter issues were the economy and immigration
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Who is the Hat Man? 'Shadow people' and sleep paralysis
In Depth 'Sleep demons' have plagued our dreams throughout the centuries, but the explanation could be medical
By The Week Staff
-
The rising demand for nuclear bunkers
Under the Radar Fears of nuclear war have caused an increase in shelter sales, but experts are sceptical of their usefulness
By Abby Wilson