British MP says US making it harder for UK Muslims to visit

A British Muslim man has spoken of his “frustration and anger” after his family was stopped from flying out to a dream holiday to Disneyland.

The issue has gained additional sensitivity because of controversial calls by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to ban Muslims from entering the US. Speaking to the Guardian newspaper, Mahmood said he believed it was because U.S. officials thought “every Muslim poses a threat”.

A Muslim family headed to Disneyland was not allowed to board their flight to Los Angeles by US authorities at Gatwick airport in London. A USA security official said it was unclear if there was a counter-terrorism aspect to the case.

Mr Mahmood, a Pakistani-born British citizen, was meant to be taking his daughter Hafsa, 14, and Hamza, 18, to meet relatives in Southern California before the family visited Disneyland and Universal Studios. That agent said he had gotten a call from USA officials in Washington, D.C., barring Mahmood from boarding the flights.

The family had spent months saving for the trip and will not be compensated for the £9,000 (approximately $13,400) they spent on the airline tickets. “The fact that we were the only ones who were of Asian or Muslim appearance, it seemed embarrassing that only we were the only ones taken out of the queue”.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials confirmed to CBS News correspondent Jeff Pegues on Wednesday that the incident occurred, but disputed allegations that all eleven family members were denied permission to board the flight.

Downing Street said Mr Cameron would respond to the issues raised by Ms Creasy.

Mr Mahmood said: “My daughter was meant to be going to Barcelona and now she’s afraid to travel”.

A British Muslim family prevented from flying to California has said they felt “humiliated and alienated”.

The imam himself was banned last-minute from boarding a New York-bound flight, despite having a valid business visa, used earlier in 2015, and he is “aware of at least 20 other cases where families are afraid to even speak out”.

“Religion, faith or spiritual beliefs of an worldwide traveler are not determining factors”.

Two sources familiar with the case said that British intelligence agencies were in no way involved in the US decision.

He said he has never encountered any problems travelling on the visa before and has visited the United States numerous times – claiming the latest treatment is “absolute discrimination” which “plays into the hands of terrorists”.

Trump’s proposed ban drew fierce criticism in Britain, including from Prime Minister David Cameron, who called Trump’s remarks “stupid, divisive and wrong”. “However not forwarding any reasons infuriates ordinary people”.

When asked by reporters about the Facebook link, the family said the email listed on the electoral roll is incorrect, missing some characters, and that the son lives in London, not Birmingham.

“It does not win the hearts and minds of people, it turns them off”. “I haven’t unpacked yet, because they still think they’re going to go”.