Washington Post: Khizr Khans claim that the U.S. is restricting his travel may be unraveling

[Jose Garcia]

Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father whose impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention in July called on Americans to reject a ban on Muslims entering the United States, claimed that his “travel privileges are being reviewed” by U.S. authorities, forcing him to cancel a scheduled speech in Toronto.

The announcement on Monday coincided with President Trump's rewritten order to temporarily ban entry of citizens from six Muslim-majority nations to the United States. Khan has been a U.S. citizen for more than 30 years and was born in Pakistan, which is not one of the six nations.

Ramsay Talks, the organizer of the event Khan was to speak at, seemed to take Khan at his word on Monday and included a statement from him in a cancellation post on Facebook. “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,” said Khan, according to the post. “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.”

The claim, which does not state which U.S. agency contacted him, immediately raised doubts about how it was possible that a U.S. citizen was being prevented from traveling abroad.

more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/03/07/khizr-khans-claim-that-the-u-s-is-restricting-his-travel-may-be-unraveling/?utm_term=.952d164a8600

[Hokie]

1. My first reaction on Khan's claim was to tread carefully

Had he released documentation it would have been credible. The fact that he didn't raised a red flag.

[OKNancy]

2. I said the same in posts yesterday

[AngryAmish]

3. So now we turn on him like we turned on Cindy Sheehan

Noice.

[mythology]

4. If he's lying, he deserves it.

He made an exceptional claim. That requires exceptional evidence.

[uponit7771]

6. Could you post the claim by Khan about his travel being ... PREVENTED ? tia

[uponit7771]

5. I don't see Khan saying they did prevent his travel in his statement? He cancelled the event cause..

... privileges were being reviewed.

I little slanted article or am I missing something?

tia

[former9thward]

7. He provided no evidence whatsoever for his claim.

He did not name anyone or any agency. There is no such thing as "travel privileges" being reviewed by anyone.

[uponit7771]

8. We don't know if his travel privileges are being reviewed and I give him the BOD vs Benedict Donalds

... Band Of Bigots.

He'll lose it if there is NO AGENCY reviewing his privileges.

[jberryhill]

9. The claim is absurd on its face

What surprises me in this thing is how many people think there is such a thing as "travel privileges" under which a US executive agency can somehow prevent someone from leaving the country. Likewise, there are no "travel privileges" under which a US citizen can be prevented from entering the country.

No one on the "no fly" list is conveniently informed by anyone that they are on such a list. But leaving aside flying, have you ever been to a land border between the US and either Mexico or Canada? It's not as if there is anyone who checks you out of the US when you enter either country.

There is nothing to give the "benefit of the doubt" to here. He issued a cryptic statement, which did not even claim that the problem was with the US. He was going to be appearing at a paid event, and getting a permit from CANADA to go there and earn money is about the only thing that could cause a problem in any of this.

But, again, the shocking thing to me is how many people believe there is such a thing as "travel privileges" under which one apparently receives a courtesy notice from the US "office in charge of leaving the country" or something.

[B2G]

13. It's shocking to me that he thought no one would follow up on his claim. nt

[jberryhill]

22. First off, Mr. Khan issued no statement

The statement that everyone is going bonkers over was issued by an event promoter.

[oberliner]

33. Yes, he did

Mr. Khan offered his sincere apologies to all those who made plans to attend on March 7th. He said: "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. 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.

[B2G]

36. Thank, I thought it was clear that this came from him.

To say it came from the event planner makes no sense at all.

[Dr. Strange]

37. Or if it did come solely from the event planner...

Khan could have spoken up and clarified the situation.

[uponit7771]

15. Travel Privileges is a wide phrase and could mean a ton of shit, again... Khan gets BOD ... .

... Benedict Donald? Not so much

we'll see

[jberryhill]

19. I don't know why you are framing a false dichotomy

Mr. Khan is not in some sort of dispute with Trump over the claim issued by Ramsay Talks, so there is no "choice of whom to believe" here.

There is no mechanism for preventing a US citizen from going to Canada (absent some sort of court order, such as a pre-trial order, etc.).

[MFM008]

27. Obviously

Something is up , why would he even make such a claim, he knows how aggressive the Murdock media is?
I would believe him before any republican saying anything.

[KittyWampus]

31. But there is a situation where Americans with Muslim names are being detained upon re-entry

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/28/us/muhammad-ali-son-ex-wife-detained-at-airport-don-lemon-cnntv/

[jberryhill]

45. Which relates to this how?

Do you think Mr. Khan, who was a centerpiece of a national dialog some months ago, is concerned about that happening?

The incident to which you refer does not at all correspond to "travel privileges being reviewed".

[KittyWampus]

47. Was Khan actually quoted as saying that? Because that's what is alleged. And he MAY have concerns,

very well-founded concerns, about being detained upon entry. Which someone may have warped into travel privileges bla bla bla.

Please get back to me if you find an actual quote from Khan.

Thanks.

[LanternWaste]

53. It would be half-witted of Khan top not be concerned about re-entry.

It would be half-witted of Khan top not be concerned about re-entry, and until thirty seconds ago I would have guessed only an irrational mind would deny it as such.

[tblue37]

58. But once out of the country, he might have trouble getting back in--or at least be hassled

and detained for hours, as has already happened to many other citizens, both naturalized and native born.

[former9thward]

10. We WOULD know if Mr. Khan had said who was reviewing.

The fact that he hasn't speaks volumes.

[uponit7771]

17. In regards to Khans credibility or Benedict Donald's crew? I'm not putting ANYTHING past Benedict...

... Donald

Khan gets BOD, Khan doesn't bold face lie daily... this could be more clear but again the Khans get the BOD

[jberryhill]

23. HE didn't say anything at all

The publicity-seeking event promoter issued some sort of statement. Mr. Khan has not responded to inquiries about it, and it seems to me that someone is simply using Mr. Khan to draw attention to themselves.

[oberliner]

34. Yes he did

The statement was from him via the promoter.

[jberryhill]

46. So

I have no idea who those people are, but they are getting a metric ton of free publicity for whatever it is they do.

Mr. Khan has not commented. Period.

Did a stenographer take notes when he was speaking to them? Was he quoted in full? You don't know.

[LanternWaste]

54. I'm not surprised you require that particular pretense.

Our own biases do indeed, fill up the empty spots we pretend exist. I'm not surprised you require that particular pretense.

[former9thward]

62. I am not surprised you believe anything on the internet.

[dalton99a]

11. Mr. Khan clearly implied that his freedom to travel was being curtailed

[B2G]

14. No details at all were given. nt

[uponit7771]

16. Yeah, could've been anyone ... Khan gets BOD, I'm not giving an OUNCE to the Band Of Bigots in the

... WH, I wouldn't put it past them to invoke a reviewing of travel by a US citizen... they don't give a fuck about law and shit... and the Band Of Bigots are stupid

[dalton99a]

18. It is possible that something happened and he thought it was government-related.

But who knows for sure.

[jberryhill]

21. "I wouldn't put it past them to invoke a reviewing of travel by a US citizen"

What does that even mean?

And, whatever that phrase might mean to you, then you further suppose they send letters to people about it?

[uponit7771]

24. Benedict Donald's crew is a bunch of assholes and I don't believe shit they say and anyone who

... does say they did some bad shit to them I give them the Benefit Of Doubt.

I don't really understand what's unclear about this and its a little uncomfortable to me giving anything the current assholes in charge do or say a good eye.

They're assholes, they're the type of people to call Khan up and say his travel privileges are under review... fuck them

[jberryhill]

26. But they haven't said anything to believe or to disbelieve

Neither has Mr. Khan, for that matter.

In point of fact, the press release by Ramsay Talks doesn't even say that the US government did any "bad shit" to anyone.

[uponit7771]

32. IE the reason I give Khan the BOD ... anything happens to him I'm not giving MiniPootin any room

... unless there's proof they weren't involved.

They're assholes, and proven vindictive assholes too...

Really, fuck Benedict Donald and his squad

[jberryhill]

20. That is not a statement issued directly by Mr. Khan in the first place

That is a statement issued by a publicity seeking company.

[oberliner]

35. Yes, it is

The statement is from him. Posted by Ramsay Talks.

[csziggy]

38. The statement is not directly from Mr. Khan - it was released by Ramsay Talks

There is no way for us to know if Mr. Khan actually made the statement that was quoted in the press release from Ramsay Talks.

Maybe that is why Mr. Khan has made no comment. He is an attorney and seems to be very careful about what he says. If the release from Ramsay Talks is bogus, Mr. Khan might be trying to find out what is going on before he comes out in public with any comment.

At this point we don't and can't know exactly what is going on. Before I believe smears about Mr. Khan I want to know more about who and what "Ramsay Talks" is and what has happened. All anyone seems to know is that short press release from Ramsay Talks, nothing more.

For all we know Mr. Khan had something else happen in his life that forced a cancellation.

Gold Star father Khizr Khan cancels Canada trip; questions raised about 'travel privileges'

Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who gave an impassioned speech at the Democratic National Convention last summer in defense of the Constitution, is no longer traveling to give a talk in Canada. After initially stating the event was cancelled because Khan’s “travel privileges were under review,” organizer Bob Ramsay of “Ramsay Talks” appeared to back away from that explanation.

In an email to McClatchy, Ramsay said the event was cancelled because Khan was not coming to Toronto.

“Alll [sic] the other information we got from me [sic] khan so you'd best check with him,” Ramsay said.

A phone call to Khan was not returned.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/article136760058.html

[oberliner]

39. Are you suggesting that a fake quote from Khan was posted on the Ramsay Talks page?

That seems unlikely.

[csziggy]

42. I have no idea who or what "Ramsay Talks" is or if they are believable

So I don't know if it is unlikely.

[jberryhill]

43. Mr. Khan himself has had no comment on the statement issued by Ramsay Talks

He has not even confirmed that what Ramsay Talks attributed to him is either complete or accurate.

[LanternWaste]

55. I like to believe commercial branding over common sense as well.

I like to believe commercial branding over common sense as well. It validates our little biases... though we rationalize it as something else entirely.

[HipChick]

12. Many Muslims have had their Trusted Traveller privileges revoked...

He might be alluding to this, but without more information on the issue...however, even with it revoked, it would not prevent him from traveling...



https://skift.com/2017/02/18/muslim-american-travelers-are-quietly-having-global-entry-privileges-revoked/

[malaise]

25. My only comment was that this could not happen to a US citizen

makes no sense

[KittyWampus]

29. Except Mohammed Ali's son was detained, for having a Muslim name:

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/28/us/muhammad-ali-son-ex-wife-detained-at-airport-don-lemon-cnntv/

[jberryhill]

44. Which relates to this how?

Was he prevented from leaving the country and/or returning to the country?

Mr. Khan is an immigration lawyer. It is fairly reasonable to assume he knows very well that the US cannot prevent him from leaving the country or returning to it.

[KittyWampus]

48. He may have concerns about re-entry and that concern might be misconstrued by someone else.

[KittyWampus]

28. Look what happened to Mohammed Ali's son. If people get harassed simply because of their skin color

or name... I'd say that might make people think twice about flying out of the country.

[Ilsa]

30. That's ehat I was thinking. He's

Concerned about the harassment he'll get returning home.

[Iggo]

40. His claim was that he canceled his trip because his travel privileges were being reviewed. (n/t)

[KittyWampus]

41. I never saw a direct quote from him.

[bigtree]

49. why invest time in trying to debunk this?

...the statement was offered by a third-party with zero confirmation from Mr. Khan.

I understand the motivation to highlight a possible abuse of liberty.

What's to be gained, though, in proving this false?

[jberryhill]

50. Some people see the truth as an independent worthwhile thing

"I understand the motivation to highlight a possible abuse of liberty."

Which is undermined by incomplete or incorrect claims of it.

[KittyWampus]

51. well then, we should wait until we hear from the man himself.

[eyeofnewt]

52. We should wait

until we hear from Mr. Khan. The Right "news" sites will have a field day with this, if they aren't already.

[KittyWampus]

57. they have a field day with blatant lies.

[LanternWaste]

56. While yet others maintain that pretense in order to better hide their biases.

"Some people see the truth as an independent worthwhile thing..."
While yet others maintain that pretense in order to better hide their biases. Six of one, half a dozen of the other... and each plausible in and of themselves.

[bigtree]

61. it's a third-hand account of what Mr. Khan said

...it's measuring the truthfulness of Ramsey Talks, at this point, not Mr. Khan.

Strange pursuit.

[Jose Garcia]

65. If the story is true, it is something we should use to beat Trump over the head

[Motley13]

59. His concern might have been getting back to the US

Muhammad Ali's son & mother were held up at an airport in Ft Lauderdale
with questions about their religion & where did they get their name???
They were born in the US

[former9thward]

63. That is not what he said.

He claimed his "travel privileges" were being reviewed. By who? He did not say. Why?

[cwydro]

60. I hope this is cleared up soon.

I've had a lot of respect for both him and his wife since he spoke up.

[littlemissmartypants]

64. I find the use of the word privileges

Confounding unless his wife is doing the review. Then it completely makes sense.