American authorities are extremely anxious to avoid “Islamophobia,” and hence it is very likely that they have good reason for this decision, and Khalid Benhaddou’s self-description is not entirely the whole story.
“Ghent imam Khalid Benhaddou is not allowed to fly over the US,” translated from “Gentse imam Khalid Benhaddou mag niet over de VS vliegen,” HLN, January 1, 2020:
The famous Ghent imam Khalid Benhaddou is not allowed to fly over the United States. Benhaddou, coordinator of the Islam experts’ education network and co-founder of the CIRRA expertise center, wanted to fly from Brussels to Mexico today. At the check-in counter in Zaventem, he was told that his departure was being refused by the American security services, he told Belga.
Benhaddou, main imam of the El Fath mosque in Ghent and chairman of the Flemish Imams Platform, is an expert in social issues concerning the place of Islam in society. He has been lauded several times for his work. In 2017 he received the human rights prize, in 2018 he received the badge of honor from the Flemish Community on behalf of the Flemish government. King Filip has repeatedly shown interest in his work on the prevention of radicalization. Various political parties regularly ask him for advice.
“I had booked a trip to Mexico, but when my passport was checked at the check-in counter I was told that my departure was being refused by the United States security agency because I was flying over American territory. The reason for this was not disclosed,” says Benhaddou.
“Frustrating”
“This is of course very frustrating, and not just because I have lost my money, because the airline is not at fault. But mainly because I have gone out of my way in the fight against extremism. If people who are committed to this are stopped and humiliated, this is a very bad signal. It may be a reason for others who will hear this story to be even more suspicious of institutions in society,” says the imam.
Benhaddou will write to the American embassy about the event. Coincidentally, a few weeks ago the American ambassador visited CIRRA, the Benhaddou expertise center.
“This story goes further than me personally, because I have heard that many other people experienced the same thing,” says the imam. He hopes that the government will raise the issue diplomatically with the US.