US blocks UK Muslim family from boarding plane to Disneyland

LONDON — British Prime Minister David Cameron will look into claims that US officials prevented a British Muslim family of 11 from flying to Disneyland for a planned holiday.

The issue is sensitive because US Republican presidential contender Donald Trump has called for a temporary ban on Muslims visiting the US due to concerns about extremist attacks.

Stella Creasy, a member of the opposition Labour Party, said yesterday that US officials gave no explanation for refusing to allow her constituents to board a flight from Gatwick Airport on Dec. 15, so she wrote Cameron seeking his intervention. She said there is "growing fear" among British Muslims that aspects of Trump's plans are coming into practice even though they have been widely condemned.

A top Muslim group said cases like this appear to be related to religion and are worrying for British Muslims.

Mohammed Zahid Mahmood said he and his family — two brothers and their nine children — were told nothing except that they were not allowed to travel to the US despite having previously obtained clearance.

"We were the only family that was of Asian, Muslim, sort of appearance, and it seemed a little bit embarrassing that only we were taken out (of the line to board)," he told the BBC.

Cameron's office said yesterday that he would investigate the matter. He had earlier characterized Trump's policy as "divisive and wrong."

A US Customs and Border Protection spokesman said the "religion, faith or spiritual beliefs of an international traveler are not determining factors" when deciding if a person can travel to the United States. The spokesman said people can be denied entry for a variety of reasons including health-related issues, prior criminal convictions, security concerns or on miscellaneous grounds.

Ajmal Masroor, a London-based imam and broadcaster, said he received similar treatment when trying to travel to the US for business recently. He told the AP that a US Embassy official prevented him from boarding a Dec. 17 flight and told him his business visa had been revoked. He said he had never had any problem travelling on that visa before.

"I asked him why repeatedly and he said 'You must have done something wrong,' without any explanation," Masroor said.

He said he feared that US officials were singling out Muslims.

"This is absolutely discrimination. It is not acceptable and playing into the hands of the terrorists," Masroor said.

The Muslim Council of Britain also said the last-minute denial of boarding privileges without explanation is distressing for Muslims.

"There is a perception that such decisions are being made due to the faith or political activism of individuals," the council said.