A local human rights group is challenging a suspected case of racial profiling, this one involving singer Freddie James.

The 50-year-old singer, with hits dating back to the disco era, says the only thing he is guilty of is driving while black.

James is claiming that he was aggressively and forcefully detained and ticketed for doinjg nothing more than asking a police officer why he was pulled over while driving through Pierrefonds on January 25th.

James says he was roughed up, cuffed and frisked before being issued a ticket for refusing to show his ID.

He paid the $162 ticket, but remains worried about how police will some day treat his 17-year-old son, who is just finishing his driving lessons.

The episode has left him deeply shocked.

"I wanted to let the people of Montreal know - people of colour, black people - that you have no rights," he said.

The Centre for Research Action on Race Relations is filing a complaint with the Human Rights Commission and is considering filing one with the police ethics commission.

Its director says racial profiling is clearly an ongoing issue with the Montreal police.