An American Muslim was held for 13 hours by staff at Heathrow Airport after leaving the US for the first time to visit family in the UK for a wedding.
Ayan Mohamud, 18, told the BBC that she felt she was being ‘judged’ in the wake of the Paris terror attacks.
But the UK Border Agency (UKBA) said the checks were for immigration purposes.
Miss Mohamud said: "After the Paris incident happened, [the UKBA] feel that everyone wearing a scarf needs to be checked thoroughly.
"I felt it was inhuman for them to treat me that way."
A Home Office spokesman said: "To ensure the correct decisions are reached it is sometimes necessary for Border Force to detain passengers while checks are carried out to ensure they qualify for entry to the UK.
"The passenger was given leave to enter the UK as soon as officers were able to make further enquiries, including in the United States."
