Public intellectual Reza Aslan says he was detained by Shin Bet at border

Public intellectual and former CNN host Reza Aslan reveals that he too was detained and interrogated by the Shin Bet security service at Israel’s border with Jordan.

In a thread of tweets, Aslan says he decided to share the experience that took place two weeks ago after author Peter Beinart disclosed his own detention.

“’We can make it so you don’t see your kids for a long time,'” Aslan recalled being warned by the Shin Bet interrogator.

The Iranian-American author says he was asked why he hates Israel. when I responded that he did not, the interrogator replied “But you hate our Prime Minister.”

https://twitter.com/rezaaslan/status/1029364814257115136

“I’m sorry is your Prime Minister Israel?” Aslan recalls having responded.

He was then accused of opposing Israel’s right to exist, which Aslan says is not the case. “I’m against the occupation not Israel.”

The interrogator then asked Aslan to write down the names of Palestinians, journalists, and relevant organizations that he associates with.

“In the end, after hours of this, she warned ‘I may let you into Israel but, who knows, I may not let you out. I will keep you here and kick out your family. It depends on you. You would miss your kids yes?’ That my friends is the classic police state trick. Iran has perfected it,” Aslan writes.