A British Muslim family of 11 was prevented from boarding a flight to Los Angeles at Gatwick Airport last week, despite having been granted online travel authorisation for their trip to Disneyland. US Department of Homeland Security officials offered no reason for the denial, fuelling concerns of discrimination.
The case has drawn the attention of senior politicians, including Prime Minister David Cameron, who has promised to examine the situation. Labour MP Stella Creasy, who represents the family, said the lack of information was creating resentment among British Muslims and asked the prime minister to press US officials for answers.
Mohammad Tariq Mahmood, one of the family members, said the children had been counting down the days to the trip and were devastated. The family, who planned to visit cousins in California and go to Universal Studios as well as Disneyland, lost the $13,340 cost of their non-refundable flights and were forced to return duty-free purchases before being escorted from the airport.
Two days later, another British Muslim, imam and lecturer Ajmal Masroor, was also turned away from a flight to New York at the same airport, again without explanation. Masroor expressed frustration at the lack of transparency, writing on Facebook that the process 'infuriates ordinary people'.
The incidents come amid heightened tensions following the Paris and San Bernardino attacks, and comments by US presidential candidate Donald Trump calling for a ban on Muslims entering the country. Creasy has also asked the government to monitor the ethnic and religious backgrounds of those blocked from travelling to ensure no discrimination is occurring at UK airports.
