I felt like a criminal, says Muslim teacher hauled off US f light

A BRITISH Muslim teacher who was removed from an aircraft on a school trip to the US has said he was ‘made to feel like a criminal’.

Juhel Miah, 25, was about to fly to New York from Iceland with students and other teachers from Llangatwg Comprehensive, in Port Talbot, South Wales, when he was removed from the plane.

The mathematics teacher was told that he had been selected for a ‘random security check’ by US officials – before he was refused permission to fly and forced to board a flight home a day later.

Yesterday MPs said they were ‘appalled’ by the treatment of Mr Miah, who was detained despite holding a British passport and a valid visa for travel.

The incident unfolded a week after a court upheld a decision to suspend an executive order by Donald Trump that banned Muslims from seven countries entering the US.

Mr Miah, from Swansea, said: ‘We got to the airport, and as soon as we got to check in, the Humiliated: Juhel Miah lady behind the desk read my passport and then straight away said you’ve been selected for a random security check.

‘She took me to the room, made me stand on a stool, take my shoes off, jacket off, checked under my foot, got a swab to brush over my hand and bag, my clothing and school hoodie.

‘They gave me the all- clear and then I went. The search was about five minutes at least. There were five or six people in the room, two searched me.’

Mr Miah said he was cleared to board the flight, but once on board he was approached by a woman who told him to follow her. He said: ‘ Everyone was looking at me. She said, “I’ve just been informed that you can’t board this plane”.

‘She wasn’t an Iceland Air official, the Iceland Air officials were brilliant.

‘As I was getting my luggage the teachers and kids were confused. I couldn’t believe this was happening.

‘All the plane was quiet. I was being escorted out. It made me feel like a criminal.’ Mr Miah said that he was kept in a ‘horrendous’ hotel for a day where he discovered the padlock on his suitcase was missing. He visited both the US and British embassies in Reykjavik but claimed the phone numbers he was given for them did not work.

Neath Port Talbot Council has written to the US Embassy in London to express its dismay at Mr Miah’s treatment.

A council spokesman said: ‘We are appalled by the treatment of Mr Miah and are demanding an explanation. The matter has also been raised with our local MP. No satisfactory reason has been provided for refusing entry to the US – either at the airport in Iceland or subsequently at the US Embassy in Reykjavik.

‘Mr Miah attempted to visit the Embassy; but was denied access to the building.

‘ Understandably he feels belittled and upset at what appears to be an unjustified act of discrimination.’

Labour Welsh Assembly Member Jeremy Miles said he was ‘appalled’ to hear about the incident and said he would be raising the issue with the Welsh Government.

And Neath MP Christina Rees said: ‘Mr Miah was subjected to a humiliating and distressing experience.

‘This also led to a potentially serious situation where a riskassessed trip was left with one teacher down, raising questions about the effect on the safeguarding of the children.’

The rest of the trip on February 16 went ahead without Mr Miah, with the pupils accompanied by other teachers.

The school booked Mr Miah’s flight home.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: ‘ We are providing support to a British man prevented from boarding a flight in Reykjavik.’ The US Embassy was approached for comment.

‘Everyone was looking at me’