A Muslim-American mayor from New Jersey was prevented from attending an Eid Al Fitr celebration at the White House this week after the US Secret Service blocked his access, without giving a reason.
Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah told a news conference on Tuesday that shortly before he had been set to arrive at the event belatedly marking the end of Ramadan on Monday, he received a call from organisers that his clearance had not been not approved by the Secret Service.
Mr Khairullah, 47, who was born in Syria, is serving his fifth term as mayor of Prospect Park, New Jersey.
He said that he suspected the problem was that his name was the same as someone else's who is on an FBI terrorism watch list.
He said that he had faced problems when travelling over the past couple of years.
"The heart of our issue today is not this invitation of Mohamed Taher Khairullah, who happens to be me and who is listed on the selectee list with my birthday," Mr Khairullah said.
"Our core issue today is that there is a secret list that everyone knows exists but our government continues to use it despite it being discriminatory and ruled illegal by a federal judge."
After the 9/11 attacks, the US set up what is known as the Terrorist Screening Data Set, a secret FBI list of known or suspected terrorists.
Being on the list subjects people to more security screening at borders, with some placed on the No-Fly List, barring them from air travel.
For years, rights groups have called on the US government to end the use of the lists, arguing that the process of determining who should be on them is unconstitutional and discriminatory.
Civil liberties groups who have viewed the lists say most of the people on them are Muslim and Arab.
Several Muslim Americans have sued the US government in recent years, saying they were mistakenly and without warning put on the list, causing humiliation at borders and limiting work and travel opportunities.
In 2019, a federal judge ruled that the FBI watch list breached the constitutional rights of American citizens.
"When I first ran for office in 2001, just one year after I became a naturalised citizen,I was hopeful that I could help implement systematic changes within New Jersey that would make life better for American Muslims and everyday Americans," Mr Khairullah said.
"And while I have been able to see this come to fruition for the most part, incidents like this, being flagged on a watch list and denied the honour that every leader should be given, makes me question our progress."
In a statement, US Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed that Mr Khairullah had not been allowed into the White House, but did not say why.
“While we regret any inconvenience this may have caused, the Mayor was not allowed to enter the White House complex this evening,” Mr Guglielmi said.
“Unfortunately, we are not able to comment further on the specific protective means and methods used to conduct our security operations at the White House.”
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH SCHEDULE
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)
Liverpool v Roma
Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)
Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
JAPAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Masaaki Higashiguchi, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Tomoaki Makino, Maya Yoshida, Sho Sasaki, Hiroki Sakai, Sei Muroya, Genta Miura, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama, Genki Haraguchi, Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Shoya Nakajima, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Ritsu Doan
Forwards: Yuya Osako, Takuma Asano, Koya Kitagawa
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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3%20Body%20Problem
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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
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THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
