2006: Iqbal Khan Refused A Visa!!!

It is not easy being a Muslim now. TV star Iqbal Khan discovered this when he went to the US embassy for a visa to attend an event in the US and Canada starting September 20.

Iqbal's request for a visa was turned down. As a result he will not be able to take part in the event that will go on till October 2.

"Why me? I've been asking myself since I was turned down. There were 14 of us from television - a majority were ladies including Kanchi Kaul and Sakshi Tanwar. I was the first one to reach the embassy. I was the only Muslim and was the only one who was denied a visa. Is it because my name is Mohammed Iqbal Khan?"

Iqbal tried hard to suppress his emotions. "The lady at the embassy said there are three terrorists with that name and that they would have to put me through a fingerprint scan. She then made me take the fingerprint test. My hands were blackened like that of a suspected criminal."

Iqbal says that for the first time he felt isolated as a Muslim.

"I had expected this event would pay for the house that I am buying for me and my fiance before our marriage. Now I can't afford it. Why was I treated this way? It's not as if I am an unknown," Iqbal said.

"In fact, when the lady at the embassy asked me if I was a known face, I was too embarrassed to say who I was. Some Indians in the room told her who I was. I still had to go through the fingerprint test and was treated like a suspect," he added.

Iqbal said that this was his second such experience in two months.

"Earlier I was denied a visa to go to Britain. But I didn't connect it with terrorism. Now when I look back I remember that there were two Muslims in that team to Britain and both were denied visa."Iqbal admits he is scared. "We're living in troubled times; anything can happen. Earlier, I used to hear it was difficult for Gujaratis to get a visa to the US. I've never had this experience before. Now, I wonder when I would be allowed out of the country! I'm getting married in January. I had big plans for my fiance and for a honeymoon abroad. Would we be allowed to go?"

Source: http://content.msn.co.in/Entertainment/Bollywood/Bollywood_I ANS_160906_310.htm