Muslim Australian MP denied entry into US

Khalil Eideh's country of origin, Lebanon, is not on Trump administration's travel ban

An Australian state MP has been prevented from entering the US on Friday, and fellow travelling politicians have been given no reason for the move.

Lebanon-born Khalil Eideh, a Labour MP in the state of Victoria in Australia, was stopped from boarding a flight to Denver from the Vancouver International Airport.



According to Eidah's colleagues, the United Airlines claimed he was not booked on the flight before being told he was denied entry.

Speaking to Australian Associate Press, Labour MP Natalie Suleyman said the United Airlines officials told Eideh he was being "denied entry to the States," without giving any explanation.

"We’re travelling MPs on an official visit, we all went through an extensive process to secure a visa for the US," stressed Suleyman.

MP Fiona Patten said United Airlines staff knew he had been denied entry to the US before the Australian politicians. "He [Eideh] was incredibly upset ... disbelieving," she added.



The Muslim MP's country of origin, Lebanon is not on the Trump administration's Travel Ban.

The Australian entourage is on a trip through Europe, Canada and the US to study drug laws. The team, consisting of Liberal MP Martin Dixon, Labour MP Geoff Howard and Victoria police assistant commissioner Rick Nugent, had been issued visa weeks ahead of the trip.

 

This article originally appeared on the Telegraph.