US rejects newly-weds ‘because groom is Muslim’
A COUPLE spent the start of their dream US honeymoon in detention and were then flown home because, they believe, the bridegroom is a Muslim.
Natasha Politakis, 29, and estate agent Ali Gul, 32, forked out £7,000 for a two-week trip to LA, Hawaii and Las Vegas.
But they were locked up in immigration at LA airport for 26 hours before being escorted, in handcuffs, to the next flight home. They said they were treated “like criminals” and never told why they were refused entry. They fear it is because of Ali’s Turkish origin.
When they arrived for the first day of their dream trip in Los Angeles, they were told they would need to be interviewed for “five minutes” but were detained for more than a day. Natasha, from Enfield, north London, said: “I am in utter shock. We had just got married, we were on our way to our honeymoon as excited as anything and never expected that we would be deported.
“We had all the documentation and answered all their questions.
“We were treated like criminals. It’s not OK to treat people like that. We believe since President Donald Trump was elected they looked at his name, thought he was Muslim, and didn’t let him in.”
The couple were refused a shower, had their possessions confiscated and were only given their phones back once they were on UK soil.
They were told that if they wanted to complain they must contact the US Embassy, but have struggled to get an appointment.