US apologizes to Muslim scholar for denying entry

[maddezmom]

Caroline Drees, Security Correspondent
2 hours, 1 minute ago



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has apologized to a prominent Britain-based Muslim scholar for denying him entry to the country last week, and has given him a new U.S. visa, the U.S. Embassy in London said on Tuesday.

Zaki Badawi, the unofficial leader of Britain's Muslims who attended talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday, was the latest in a string of people who have been denied entry to the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks without receiving details on the suspicions against them.

Speaking off the record, European law enforcement sources have accused the United States of overreacting in many of these cases, which have also included the former pop singer Cat Stevens, a Muslim convert now known as Yusuf Islam.

"It has been resolved. Mr. Badawi has been in touch with embassy officials. We told him we regret what happened. He met with newly arrived Ambassador (Robert) Tuttle on his first day in the office yesterday. He has a new visa," said Susan Domowitz, spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in London.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050719/pl_nm/security_usa_badawi_dc;

[jmatthan]

1. Obviously want to arrest him when he lands

in the US and off to GITMO with him!!

Jacob Matthan
http://jmpolitics.blogspot.com
Oulu, Finland

[nine23]

2. Brown skin + funny last name...who would'a thunk?

This guy, shortly after 7/7, actually stood with the Archbishop of Caterbury (among others) outside Buckingham Palace denouncing the attacks. He was also in attendance at a dinner with GWB several months earlier...

It's also worth noting he handled the situation last week with the utmost poise and grace. He stated he "felt sorry" for the brain-dead robots at customs when he was denied entry. ("brain-dead robots" my quote, but he said something similar I can't recall...)