Indian scribe stopped at White House over Muslim name
28 November 2009. Press Trust of India. Washington, DC
A senior Indian journalist, who was part of the media delegation that accompanied Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his recent US visit, was not allowed to enter the White House for covering Singh-Obama meeting.
Aziz Burney, editor of Urdu daily Rashtriya Sahara, said though his travel documents were in order the “special treatment” came because he has a Muslim name.
Neither the Indian Embassy in Washington, nor the White House commented on it when approached by a news agency about it.
However, it is learnt that the Indian Embassy has raised the issue with US officials concerned. It is believed that the White House is also looking into the episode.
About 90 Indian journalists, including those who had come with the Prime Minister, were present for the joint press conference by Singh and President Barack Obama on November 24.
Burney said while others were allowed to enter, he was told to wait.
US security officials apparently stopped Burney because he had a different name on his passport on which his earlier had been stapled. His old visa carried the name Abdul Aziz Khan while the new one had Aziz Burney.
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