Khizr Khan, the Muslim Gold Star father who made headlines this fall after delivering a powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention, abruptly canceled a trip to Canada on Monday after receiving a warning that his travel privileges are being reviewed.

Khan was scheduled to speak in Toronto on Tuesday at an event coordinated by Ontario-based Ramsay Talks. Khan planned to talk about his opposition of President Donald Trump and how others can join in in opposition of the new president.

Editor's Note: This story was updated throughout on March 8. 

Khan, whose son U.S. Army Cpt. Humayun Khan was killed in Iraq in 2004, used his speech to rebuke the campaign rhetoric used by then-Republican nominee Donald Trump, who made frequent statements about limiting Muslim immigration into the United States, even suggesting the idea of creating a Muslim registry early on in his campaign.

"If it was up to Donald Trump, he never would have been in America," said Khizr Khan in reference to his son's Muslim faith. He pulled out a pocket-size copy of the U.S. Constitution and asked Trump: "Have you even read the U.S. Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy. In this document, look for the words 'liberty' and 'equal protection of law."

Khan said he was forced to cancel his travel plans this week after being "notified that his travel privileges are being reviewed," according to a post on Ramsay Talks Facebook page

"This turn of events is not just of deep concern to me but to all my fellow Americans who cherish our freedom to travel abroad," Khan said in the statement posted by Ramsay Talks. "I have not been given any reason as to why. I am grateful for your support and look forward to visiting Toronto in the near future." 

There is no evidence to support the claims made by Ramsay Talks and Kahn has declined to comment to several requests from media outlets, including The Washington PostReutersThe Atlantic, and Politico.

Bob Ramsay of Ramsay Talks told reporters that Kahn's travel privileges are under review by the U.S. government. "I don't know exactly who conducted the review, but in speaking with Mr. Khan, it was certainly U.S. authorities. That's all I know," said Ramsay, according to the Washington Post

There are issues with Kahn's claims. American citizens do not need a visa to travel to Canada and the U.S. government doesn't prevent its citizens from foreign travel if they haven't been charged with a crime. Additionally, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official told Politico that American travelers are not contacted about international travel in advance of their trip.

"All individuals are subject to inspection departing or upon arrival to the United States," according to the CBP official. But that inspection does not account for Kahn's claim that he was contacted prior to traveling.

A U.S. State Department official told the New York Daily News that the department does not have any procedures for reviewing travel privileges, noting that anyone with a U.S. passport can travel outside of the country. 

The Canadian government has denied issuing a review of Kahn's travel privileges as well.

"We are unaware of any restrictions regarding this traveler," said Camielle Edwards, spokeswoman for Canadian Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen. 





Share:
In Other News
Load More