British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer refunds to customers affected by US ‘Muslim ban’
Are you a British citizen with dual nationality who has plans to visit the US and may not be able to go? Email [email protected] or call 0207 782 4094
BRITISH Airways and Virgin Atlantic are offering refunds to customers affected by Donald Trump's controversial "Muslim ban".
Customers who have flights booked with either airline will be able to re-book or get a refund on their tickets if they are no longer able to fly to the US.
It comes after the President put a 90-day ban on visitors from seven Muslim countries.
Among those caught in limbo include Olympic hero Sir Mo Farah and Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi.
Farah, who has a training base in the US, is a British passport holder but was born in Somalia – one of seven countries to which travel restrictions will apply.
It has now been suggested that the Olympic hero could therefore be affected by the ban.
Farah lives with his family in the US state of Oregon, and it is understood he would not be booted out of the country if he were already there.
It was thought that he could find himself unable to leave – as he would not be allowed to re-enter for at least three months, until the temporary travel restrictions have been lifted.
But The Sun has now learned that the gold medal-winner is not currently in the States, as he is away training in Ethiopia – meaning he may not be able to return home to his family.
The Sun has contacted Farah’s representatives for comment.
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A Tory MP and his wife are also among those affected by the travel ban.
Nadhim Zahawi, MP for Stratford-upon-Avon, today revealed he and his wife were both unable to travel to the US because they were born in Iraq.
He wrote on Twitter: “What if you are British of Iraqi origin, as I am? A sad sad day to feel like a second class citizen! Sad day for the USA.”
The politician later followed this up with a second post, tweeting: “Had confirmation that the order does apply to myself and my wife as we were both born in Iraq. Even if we are not dual Nat.”
The US president this week signed off an executive order denying people from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia entry to the USA for 90 days.
But people travelling on passports from countries other than these who originally come from one of the list of banned countries could also be prevented from entering to the US, it emerged today.
That means Brits with dual nationality who had planned getaways to the US in the next three months could be set for holiday misery.
Faraz Aghaei, 25, was planning a trip to New York for his birthday in October and fears he may now be unable to go because of his dual British-Iranian nationality.
The London-based businessman, who co-founded The Clerkenwell Bros, said: "I've had the opportunities I've had because at no point in my life has someone discriminated me for my place of birth.
"I proudly call myself a British - Iranian citizen. Over the space of a weekend, I have been blamed for crimes I have not committed, and banned from a country, who’s philosophy of freedom and opportunity, I’ve always admired."
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