‘More than 20 UK Muslim families denied entry to US’

LONDON: More than 20 British Muslim families have been denied entry to the US, an imam said, amid mounting claims of religious discrimination by border officials.

The allegation was made after a British father, whose family holiday to Disneyland in the US was cancelled at the last minute by border officials, spoke of their “devastation”.

Mohammad Tariq Mahmood was among 11 members of his family hoping to fly from Gatwick to Los Angeles last week, but said they were taken from the queue to board the plane by a border control officer.

He said the official told them there was a problem and that the airport had received a phone call from Washington, banning Mohammad and his party from getting on the plane.

No reason was given.

“We were devastated,” Mohammad told ITV News.

He said nobody in his family had ever been arrested, involved in a terror group, or travelled to Syria.

The issue has been thrust into the spotlight following presidential contender Donald Trump’s call for a temporary ban on Muslims visiting the US due to concerns about terrorism.

Prominent London-based imam Ajmal Masroor said those affected were “very afraid they’ll never be able to visit America again” if they speak publicly about the issue.

“I’m aware of at least 20 other cases where families are afraid to even speak out.”

He said the bans had been handed down for some time, but they appeared to have increased in number in recent weeks. – The Independent