Bollywood star held in U.S. airport, fans outraged!!

[christera22 8]

Source : http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090815/people..._india_usa_khan

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan said he felt angry and humiliated after he was detained and questioned at a U.S. airport, sparking an uproar in India among his fans.

Khan, 43, one of India's best known actors, was enroute to Chicago for a parade to mark the Indian independence day on Saturday when he was pulled aside at Newark airport Friday, he said.

"I was really hassled perhaps because of my name being Khan. These guys just wouldn't let me through," he said in a text message to reporters in India.

After a couple of hours' interrogation, he was allowed to make a call, he said, and he got in touch with the Indian consulate who vouched for him and secured his release.

"Absolutely uncalled for, I think. I felt angry and humiliated," said Khan, who had just finished a month-long shoot in the United States for his upcoming film "My Name is Khan," which is about a Muslim man's experience with racial profiling.

A U.S. consul official in India told a television channel they were inquiring into the matter.

As news of Khan's detention broke on Indian television channels, which have played up attacks in Australia on Indian students, fans and actors began posting angry comments on the Internet.

"Shocking, disturbing n downright disgraceful. It's such behavior that fuels hatred and racism. SRK's a world figure for God's sake. Get real!!," tweeted actor Priyanka Chopra.

Indian Information Minister Ambika Soni told a television station that while she could not say if Khan had been detained "on religious grounds, there have been too many instances like these in the U.S. concerning Indians."

Last month U.S-based carrier Continental Airlines apologized to former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam for frisking him at New Delhi airport.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Terrible and wrong.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Terrible and wrong.

We only heard his side of the story. Lets not pass judgment.

[christera22 8]

what can be the other side of the story ?? So they are thinking he may be a spy ?? the religion thing may be playing part here. Did you read teh frisking of former president. US border guys think themselves to be small gods with a uniform and gun in the holster. They dnt even care for US consulates abroad. I understand they can have concerns and question . BUt then couple hrs ?? Thts idiotic and intentional. anyways let the other side story come out too !

[Ban Hammer 12,880]

newark airport? they musta thought he was aj.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Too bad they haven't reported more details of the incident. The man must have had a passport and visa to prove who he was. Why such a long detention?

[_Simpson_ 250]

what can be the other side of the story ?? So they are thinking he may be a spy ?? the religion thing may be playing part here. Did you read teh frisking of former president. US border guys think themselves to be small gods with a uniform and gun in the holster. They dnt even care for US consulates abroad. I understand they can have concerns and question . BUt then couple hrs ?? Thts idiotic and intentional. anyways let the other side story come out too !

There are justifiable reasons to pull somebody aside and search them. I think we can agree on that, so what was there reasons, well we dont know and I want to hear the other side before I jump on the "they did it cause of his religion " bandwagon.

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

Don't you know it, the US is the best country in the world!!!!! You can eat yourself obsese with cheap fast food and then have no health insurance to care for your diabetes/ stroke/ heart attack although you work 50+ hours a week with 10 days vacation a year.

[_Simpson_ 250]

This must be some of that constructive criticism that Hal was talking about.

Seriously though what does that have to do with this topic?

Edited August 15, 2009 by looking_up

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

What I was trying to express with my sarcastic post is that I am very tired of the US thinking that they are the greatest country in the world and that everyone wants to live there, legally or illegally. That people who go through POE are questioned like criminals, although they are only going there on vacation or for business with no intention to stay there.

[nowhereman 1]

There is a duplicate thread on this topic. I agree with others who say wait until the whole story is known. It could be the guys name matches that of a known or suspected terrorist, which would alert security & trigger a detention until the truth was sorted out.

[sara..... 371]

goes right alone with what i heard when i got back to the states that people were purchasing duct tape and plastic after 9-11

we as a country have been so terrorized by our past president and his group that we think anyone that is Muslim or could be Muslim is a threat.

hey on that note when is the last time the news broadcast the color of the terror alert since bush has been gone?

flat crazy all of it

just my opinion

sara

[_Simpson_ 250]

What I was trying to express with my sarcastic post is that I am very tired of the US thinking that they are the greatest country in the world and that everyone wants to live there, legally or illegally. That people who go through POE are questioned like criminals, although they are only going there on vacation or for business with no intention to stay there.

This is a great country, not perfect and we have our fair share of problems. I dont think that perpetuating these stereotypes do any good and I think it is inaccurate for the most part.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

What I was trying to express with my sarcastic post is that I am very tired of the US thinking that they are the greatest country in the world and that everyone wants to live there, legally or illegally. That people who go through POE are questioned like criminals, although they are only going there on vacation or for business with no intention to stay there.

This is a great country, not perfect and we have our fair share of problems. I dont think that perpetuating these stereotypes do any good and I think it is inaccurate for the most part.

Those aren't stereotypes, they are generalizations which are generally true and they're not a commentary on our country's values, but of our policies.

[_Simpson_ 250]

What I was trying to express with my sarcastic post is that I am very tired of the US thinking that they are the greatest country in the world and that everyone wants to live there, legally or illegally. That people who go through POE are questioned like criminals, although they are only going there on vacation or for business with no intention to stay there.

This is a great country, not perfect and we have our fair share of problems. I dont think that perpetuating these stereotypes do any good and I think it is inaccurate for the most part.

Those aren't stereotypes, they are generalizations which are generally true and they're not a commentary on our country's values, but of our policies.

Her main focus was on how the US thinks that we are the greatest country. I find this inaccurate I see many here, on tv, and at work that dont think the USA is the best country in the world and perpetuating that myth does no good.

All that aside my point was that her sarcasm IMO does no good.

Edited August 15, 2009 by looking_up