US denies SA Muslim man entry

San Francisco – An Islamic scholar from South Africa was denied entry into the United States, prompting questions from Muslims in the San Francisco Bay Area who had invited him to participate in activities marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Fazlur Rahman Azmi was detained by officials from US Customs and Border Protection when he arrived at San Francisco International Airport from London on Friday afternoon, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a civil liberties group. Azmi, who had made previous visits to the country as recently as April without problems, was questioned for hours before being denied entry and sent on a plane out of the country on Saturday, the group said.Michael Fleming, a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson, confirmed Saturday that Azmi was forced to leave the country after a brief detainment.”His application for entry into the US was determined to be inadmissible,” said Fleming.He refused to give any details of the case.About 1 000 people are denied entry into the United States every day for reasons that include inadequate travel documents or because their names appear on a US government watch list.”There’s nothing suspicious about him,” said Nawaz Khan of the Fremont, California-based Islamic Society of East Bay whose members waited at the airport Friday while officials questioned Azmi.”He is not involved in any political groups.All he does is teach at the mosque and pray.”Khan said no one from the group was allowed to speak with Azmi or provide food for the 60-year-old man, who is diabetic and was fasting during the day in observance of Ramadan.Officials only gave Azmi chips and water, he said.Nampa-SapaAzmi, who had made previous visits to the country as recently as April without problems, was questioned for hours before being denied entry and sent on a plane out of the country on Saturday, the group said.Michael Fleming, a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson, confirmed Saturday that Azmi was forced to leave the country after a brief detainment.”His application for entry into the US was determined to be inadmissible,” said Fleming.He refused to give any details of the case.About 1 000 people are denied entry into the United States every day for reasons that include inadequate travel documents or because their names appear on a US government watch list.”There’s nothing suspicious about him,” said Nawaz Khan of the Fremont, California-based Islamic Society of East Bay whose members waited at the airport Friday while officials questioned Azmi.”He is not involved in any political groups.All he does is teach at the mosque and pray.”Khan said no one from the group was allowed to speak with Azmi or provide food for the 60-year-old man, who is diabetic and was fasting during the day in observance of Ramadan.Officials only gave Azmi chips and water, he said.Nampa-Sapa