While on his way to an Indian Independence celebration in Chigago, Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan was detained by US Immigration officers when he landed in New Jersey. According to the news Khan, who obviously has a Muslim last name, was questioned and detained after his name popped up on an official’s computer display. After two hours of questioning, Khan was released when the Indian Embassy in the US intervened on his behalf.
Khan, who is perhaps India’s most famous celebrity, was rather shocked at the whole affair. Not only is the 43 year old actor one of the most famous people in India, he was named one of the 50 most influential people in the world last year by Newsweek. It is not as if a Wikipedia search at the airport would not have revealed who he was to the officials. Khan made a statement to a CNN-IBN reporter after the incident:
“I was waiting for my bags… I thought it was nice of them to take me to another room… but that was apparently a second check. I had my papers in order.”
India’s government has reacted critically, particularly since incidents like this are all to common at US points of entry. Information broadcast minister Ambika Soni told reporters that he way people from India are frisked and treated, India should react similarly. US Ambassador Timothy Roemer made a statement as well, describing Khan as a “global icon”, who is welcome in the US. For this writer, I don’t know exactly how to translate that quirky comment. So, is he saying because Khan is so famous he is welcome, or is he saying if they had known he was so famous, he would have been welcome? Sorry, sometimes I am embarrassed by my country’s officials.
Roemer also commented, saying US Immigration is trying to find out exactly what happened. Given the number an types of security cameras at airport checkpoints, this seems like something that might have take 5 minutes to me. As Americans, we all share in a sort of collective paranoia since the 911 attack. It is understandable to be this way, of course. But freaking out every time someone enters our country with a “name” that is suspicious? If you were a terrorist, and you wanted to kill Americans, would you use a passport with a Muslim name? Or, would you walk across the US border with Mexico along with 35 or 40 million other people of color?
Khan, not exactly hard to recognize is he?
Perhaps the most idiotic aspect of this story is the fact that these Bozo’s at our border had no faster means of communication which would have allowed Khan to be released sooner. However, the most important thing about this story is tha “anyone” was insulted or treated improperly. A great joke for India to play on the US would be the next time our President visitis there, to detain him becuase his name is Barrack Obama. Heck, it is not that far from being Usama is it?
