Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan detained at US

LOL brit

In my opinion... 'Americans are fixated on the idea of equal opportunities in employment'... which is a good thing...

I dunno why USA Doc said what he did... but neways... I guess he has his reasons...

Who knows if he is a doctor at all, or even an American :-)

All of my doctors in the US, including my dentist are Muslim immigrants. My father just told me how my grandmother's doctor who treated her after her stroke was a Muslim. My daughter's OB/GYN is a Muslim and one of the pediatricians in the practice my grandchildren go to is a Muslim.

But I guess it serves your purposes to come on QL and moan about how unfair the West is to Muslims :-)

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

I thot the Americans were fixated on the idea of equal opportunities in employment... this is news to me, but you know best...

verisimilitude said they consider a five,,,,,

you are right. It is a joke.

Yes there is racial Profiling here more so than any other country. It is all because of the fear card that Bush and his cabinet members played to scare the American people of Muslims, So much so that Americans dont hire you only because you are a muslim regardless of qualifications. lets not kid ourselves.

they consider a five year old a security threat and won't let his mother touch him???... that just goes to show how much 'intelligence' goes in to the security process...

http://www.king5.com/video/featured-index.html?nvid=206446

It only happens in Georgebushisthan

If the organizers have underworld links or whatever... go after the organizers... not their guests...

Maybe they've been watching too many SRK movies and got the impression they were roping him in to carry out some covert Mission Impossible type terrorist activities!

If your company or sponsor gets in a legal tangle... do you get stopped at the immigration...?

Halliburton is one of the most maligned global American companies... do you see Dick Cheney being detained at any American Airports?

So, if ALL Shahrukh Khan's fill in and submit the neccessary "form" , then thy can all have their names removed..

Cool!

Hard to imagine the guys doing the body search and telling his mother that she couldn't comfort him because he was a national security threat! rofl

http://www.king5.com/video/featured-index.html?nvid=206446

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Well while we are on google, found an interesting article on the net about US security. Search for Matthew Gardner on google, second link. Interesting story about a 5 yr old.

" Dont take life too seriously, you will never get out alive!!!"

Hey IT WORKS.. This www.google.com thingy is briliant. I typed in his name and got the following link and story...

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3159548

The story thus far was that Khan was a `victim' of racial profiling and that he was detained for detailed questioning because of his name, religion and, probably, the colour of his skin.

But now there is a new angle: the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may have detained Khan at the Newark Liberty International Airport last week because the organisers of his show in the US were not above the watermarks of controversies, including underworld links.

The promoters of the show were Farhath Hussain, a businessman from London, and his brother Altaf Hussain, a Chicago-based businessman. The brothers are self-proclaimed fans and promoters of Bollywood and together run the Lake County South Asian Entertainment Inc.

US authorities reportedly suspect the brothers on two counts: tax evasion and underworld links, according to a report in Times of India.

The report goes on to say that there are other promoters too along with Lake County South Asian Entertainment Inc and some of them are on the radar of authorities in the US, UK and India. It was this blip on the radar that forced the CBP to ask Khan to step aside for detailed questioning.

Khan had given interviews to various newspapers and TV channels and one thing that he said was that some of the questions he had to answer were silly, irrelevant and even disrespectful.

Now in the context of the new angle, these questions have assumed significance.

This is probably why the CPB refused to let go Khan despite the representatives of the organisers of the show standing in for the super star's identity and the status that he enjoyed in India.

Added to this, Khan's baggage was missing and the new airport security says that such cases have to be further investigated.

Earlier, the Bollywood showbiz in the US was controlled by one Vijay Taneja and his company Elite Entertainment. But this firm had to wind up as Taneja was convicted in a mortgage fraud last year.

Source: India Syndicate

there is this website called google...

if you don't know someone or something,

you can go to www.google.com

and then type the name of whatever it is that you want to learn more about

Once you type the name and press enter..

it will give you all the websites giving information about the name that you entered...

its really cool.. you should try it out...

you can also do it at this website called wikipedia

just go to www.wikipedia.com

if you have trouble just PM me and I can take you through the steps...

Who is He???????????

it's a part of descrimination in US especially if you are Muslim, they are very very strict most especially in the Airport, there's a lot of FBI Agents there roaming around.... they will not recognized you eventhough you are a great actor or actress in other country, so better dont go there and stay in your country...

all in the name of publicity.....

Yep..nice way of getting oneself advertised in the land of Hollywood.. Good PR for Mr Khan.

20 million illegal immigrants in the US...

The guy waited for an hour because his luggage was not with him. Unduly harsh? Jeez, perhaps someone need remind Indians to shore up their borders otherwise more slaughters will happen like the one just a few months ago courtesy of their dear neighbours in Pakistan who just happen to fit the same profile...

This jerkoff actor used this as free publicity and all you rubes fell for it. ROTFL

silly mostly

jump on the couch and people get all excited...

This is the first time I am hearing about this...

But there are lots of conservative people in India...

and to call that kiss... a kiss on the cheeks is playing it down a bit... i just saw it on youtube and it looks so clumsy... he looked drunk...

Anyway... not sure what that has to do with the issue at hand...

I am afraid that's not true... he was not sentenced in absentia... but he would be well advised not to pull that stunt in this part of the world though...

and apparently THAT was a major crime, but SRK saying he wants to frisk Angelina Jolier and Megan Fox is acceptable. Khulli wulli indeeed!

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Richard Gere was sentenced to jail time in absentia :-)) LOL!!!

By verisimilitude at 2009-08-19

typical of Bollywood? I was really surprised to read his remarks about frisking a married woman (not to mention a single woman). Seems particularly odd in light of the huge fuss kicked up when Richard Gere kissed Shilpa Shetty.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

You can start a new thread if you have some derrieres you still haven't kissed :-)

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

I guess it depends on where you are standing as to whether this more embarrassing for SRK or the US authorities:

What Shah Rukh Khan said on his return to Mumbai from the US

US SECURITY CHECKS

I am scared of the authorities and rules so I try to follow the rules of the country I travel to. Whenever I am in America, I have to report at least two hours in advance while travelling within the country for security reasons — they ask me to take off my clothes and shoes, and I do that. But I never experienced this kind of treatment.

There are some routine security measures — they check your fingerprints and scan your retina. But the routine security process was not followed. Instead, the authorities asked me bizarre and irrelevant questions. I am not trying to make a point here, but why were security measures not followed?

The security of any country is important but caste, religion or race shouldn’t come in the way of security measures. You may call me a mega star, a celebrity, but basically I’m just a normal guy. But I’m lucky that I have access to friends in the (Indian) consulate whom I could call up. But there are hundreds of others who don’t have this facility.

If you want to give a tit-for-tat policy to American actors, then call me to frisk Angelina Jolie and Megan Fox whenever they are visiting India.

DETENTION

It was in Newark where I was detained for questioning. It was because they said my name was common to some name that popped up on the computer. I told them I am a movie star and had recently visited the country for the shooting for a film (My Name is Khan).

They kept on asking me silly questions like if I knew someone in the US who could vouch for me, if I could give them numbers of people they could get in touch with.

I had all the documents; they were asking me where I was going to be staying. I gave the name of Fox people, with whom I had finalised a deal a few days ago, as contacts. I kept on giving numbers. They wanted to know why I came here… I felt bad, angry… I was harassed for no reason.

I didn’t say a word there because I have a sense of humour which might lead to something… I don’t want special treatment. I was not angry and I was not disturbed.

PUBLICITY

I do not need any publicity. My film’s (My Name is Khan) release is seven-eight months away. Why should I do a publicity stunt now? When the time comes, I will create such a hoopla for the film’s publicity that the entire world will sit up and watch. Karan (Johar) is shivering because he has heard that the Americans and Fox studios to whom we have sold the film, would like to see the rushes of the film after all this.

I was asked bizarre questions by the airport officials. It wasn’t a drama. I don’t want publicity. But I feel routine procedure was not followed there. We should not be treated on the basis of our colour or nationality.

I hate people who rake up religious issues for their personal gains.

I don’t want to sound pompous here but I don’t need publicity to promote my movie. I am too big a star for that.

The film’s issue is much larger than just being a stop at the immigration. It’s not ironic, maybe we made the film because one thinks this is an issue that should be addressed.

RETURNING TO US

I will go to the US when work demands but I will limit my travels. I have no complaints against the system but I wish it could be more streamlined and less cumbersome.

I am not going to the US in the near future. I will never go there with my family. I understand their security concerns but they must stop their paranoia. There should not be any security check on the basis of religion. I don’t bother who says what. But I am a proud Muslim and a proud Indian too.

APOLOGY

I don’t want an apology.… They were doing their duty, and I had no objection to it. But they must improve the system and make people comfortable rather than making them feel embarrassed and insulted.

There were 20 other people in the same (detention) room. Was even their baggage missing? I was clearly told that my name flashed on their computer and therefore they had to question me.

When you have issued me a visa and imprints of my fingers and my photograph are on it, I am sure it is there in your system. Why do I have to go through the ordeal?

RAJIV SHUKLA

I managed to send SMSes to my family and friends from the detention room — Rajiv Shukla was one among them. He used his influence to reach the Indian embassy officials who came to vouch for me. But he also owns a news channel so the news went out to the world. That was not my intention.

They did not ask me not to use the mobile. It was written there on a poster so I did not call anyone — just texted Mr Shukla and my other contacts there, including Sant Chatwal (the hotelier). [actually you are not supposed to use your mobile at all, including text messages]

AMAR SINGH

Amar Singh is unwell, and I pray that he recovers soon with a healthy body and strong mind. (In response to Singh’s comment that SRK was making a big deal of the incident while people like Amitabh Bachchan and many others, including former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who have faced this have not created a mountain of a molehill).

MULAYAM SINGH

(On Mulayam Singh’s accusation that SRK was doing all this for publicity) “Yaar, yeh sab wahiyat batein hain (These are all idiotic statements). Let us not turn this into a political issue.”

SALMAN KHAN

(Reacting to fellow actor Salman Khan’s comments that such routine security check-up was okay) It is his experience and his point of view but it was not comfortable for me. I am a respectable man and I found all this offensive. This was a first for me. Maybe next time onwards, I will not mind as well.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090819/jsp/nation/story_11379971.jsp

-------------------------------------------------------

So one thing is clear and that is that he wasn't traveling on a new visa, so they wouldn't have been doing his prints and retinal scans.

However, with 20 people in the room for questioning it explains why it took him 66 minutes. Furthermore, he kept talking about "bizarre" questions; but then says the questions were related to whether anyone in the US could vouch for him, what he would be doing and where he would be staying. I don't find those bizarre at all. They are what I am asked most times I travel into a foreign country. And I am not sure why that made him embarrassed and insulted....

It's also interesting to note that he sent out text messages from the detention room when he read the signs that said he couldn't use his mobile phone. Surely he isn't really that ignorant to think that doesn't include using his mobile phone to send text messages. It seems more like he simply did not respect the rules to begin with and therefore broke them. Lucky coincidence that the man he contacted also has news stations that could get the story out so quickly.

It's also good to know he wasn't seeking publicity for his upcoming film, although building the buzz about a film 7-8 months before it is released is standard marketing procedure. Now maybe it will draw some box office in the US, which is extremely rare for a Bollywood vehicle. Even though he is such a mega star (according to him), everyone can use a little extra publicity. :-)

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

The fact that it reaches down from the upper left corner of the picture... reaching down... shows their power... that kind of divine power that I personally like to associate with the mods...

I'll call this piece of art... "The Hand of MOD"

I am sorry the mods found you offensive... not surprised though... just sorry... must be such a shame at your age to be yanked by the ear for misbehaving...

By verisimilitude at 2009-08-19

When I was kidnapped by Aliens, they probed, prodded and abused me for MORE than 2 hours before finally letting me go. My name wasn't even Khan :(

ever heard of biometrics?

most people go through immigration without being detained

The reason some are detained is because there is something which makes their situation suspicious

Considering the amount of hassle that this detention can cause such as missed flights and flayed nerves after a long haul flight, this process of identifying those that need to be detained should be intelligent and not random... that's the point...

Even a simple google search of Shah Rukh Khan would have verified his personality... sadly, this was not done... absolutely no 'intelligence' was put to use...

I assume it is because they want to confirm that the person traveling is who they say they are and it is seen as an extra precautionary measure. But you can ask them yourself if you ever go to the US. :-P

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

stubborn old lady... can't accept what she said was wrong... on first time of entry, all people need to taken aside for questioning... yeah sure...

Anyway like i was saying... why is it that after they have conducted interviews before issuing a visa, they need to have another round of interviews at the port of entry... there has to be some logical reason...

verm is as close as versi. What's your problem?

Or should I just wait for you to go crying to the mods again because I can't spell?

:-)

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Absolutely not, verisimilitude! You've completely misunderstood me. I am saying that the immigration officers in both cases had EVERY right and duty to do so. What I AM saying is that even we pink people of the world have these problems. But we don't assume it's discrimination because we are blond, Christian, Western, or whatever. We just accept them as "some days you're the windshield, some days you're the bug." That's what I meant about not calling the newspapers - it's just NOT news. For me or for Khan.

Mandi

on business with a Lebanese Armenian woman and she was questioned in the airport since it was her first time traveling there on that passport and visa. We should have called BBC, CNN and A-J to see if anyone wanted a good story! :-)

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

but stupidity... can be...

LOL...

neway... since you brought it... for the probably the tenth time...

my name is verisimilitude...

please refer to me as ver, veri, verisi or versi...

happen and you need to get off your high horse and realize Indians are no more exempt from them, than are Americans.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

referring to PM's comment...

what she said about biometrics is true

but its not true that all entrants will be taken apart for questioning...

vindictive posts and ugly name calling for me :-)

It's just interesting that he doesn't really have anything to say to back up his pronouncements...

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

sorry... but are you saying that because there was a queue of 200 people, the immigration officer is not entitled to verify your signature...

And that your husband's colleague should be exempt from the NOC laws?

I certainly hope you are not referring to me, verisimilitude.

Mandi

garbage...

One of my husband's colleagues came back to Doha to give a guest lecture the week the NOC laws came into effect. Since he didn't have an NOC to present at the airport and couldn't reach anyone at the university because it was Friday night, he was deported back to the US! Bless his heart, at age 75 he turned around and came back the next week. Guess he forgot to call the newspapers to complain also.

Mandi

Check out the new policies. People traveling to the US on a new visa (since the changes after 9/11) will be interviewed and fingerprinted the first time they enter American borders. You're outdated verm.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

India late in the spring and they flew all the way there before being denied a visa upon arrival (as they had been told they would have no problem by the Indian Embassy here). They had to turn around and fly back to Doha, missing their presentations. Funny, we all took it in stride and no one went online to whine about how bad the Indians are. We just don't attend conferences there anymore. There are enough great opportunities elsewhere in the world, so we don't need the headache.

:-)

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

I wasn't happy with my long detention by the immigration officer at Cochin's airport the last time I visited India. I was the first to approach the desk and he kept the entire line of some 200 passengers waiting behind me to question my signature at length. Guess what? I haven't been back to India since! But I must have forgotten to call the newspapers ...

Mandi

I wasn't saying that the process is garbage...

I was just saying that what you said was pure garbage... not true...

and the US. No one will miss you :-P

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

first time you enter on a visa... you go through this... GARBAGE

questioning. If you are about to release a movie called "My name is Khan" it works to your advantage :-P

US is not UK -- or didn't you know? :-)

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Khan the Pathan, please don't travel to the USA ...

If you do, keep a sndwich in your pocket !

that there are quite a few Indians traveling to the UK but they don't seem to have such problems...

Its only when traveling to the US

Besides, I don't really understand the logic

Aren't they suppose to check all this BEFORE they issue a visa

Whats the point in issuing a visa and then checking again just before entering the country?

What is if he is a celebrity, he is a normal person and security can ask any question to clarify a person.

from my side, its a good job from them as they showed world that they dont have any differentiate between celebrity or a local person.

its sounds very silly, that they caught him by looking at his surname..

I am also a muslim guy, if tomorrow somebody detain me at US airport by asking numerous questions, definetly i will respect the law of that country and answer them accordingly..

Its a good lesson to all security department. DO YOUR JOB AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS...

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Is it true that India has withdrawn its Ambassador rom the USA and th U.N has called an emergency session ??

well.My most respected lady on QL(Mandi),pls dont go on such a poll,but I believe that partly you are right.coming to main subject-,,if you go to other country,it is obligatery to respect local laws thats what I believe.Americans have right to run their countries by their own style and this is their style.up to 2006 I frequantly travelled to US,my name is also khan and I have long beard too.no extra problems.I dont think that stupid actor stopped because he is khan.yes, I spare what they did with our honorable President and George Fernandes, it was not acceptable.

Even their own citizens are suffering.From rochester ot Minnopolis, I remember half hour flight, but we had to report 4 hours before take off.

I simply gave up, after 2006 I humbly told my boss to spare me from us trips.

awkhan

Then why, oh why, does a recent Newsweek poll show that 83% of Indians would immigrate to the US if given a chance to do so?

Mandi

People have gone to war for less :)

do cause "untold misery" to "God knows how many people daily". Until you or someone provides proof that this is a big issue, based on the numbers of people who go through American immigration on a daily basis, then it is nothing more than a few people blowing it out of proportion.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

to repeat myself...security measures are fine but effectively implementing them without causing untold misery to God knows how many people every single day(shah rukh khan is a star,so his story got reported,but the fact remains that regular people everyday are being indefinitely detained,missing flights,missing deadlines,being sent back where they came from,etc) is the most important bit & that's not happening,it's inefficient & ineffective & THAT is the issue here NOT the security measures themselves or questioning why they're there or asking that some people be exempt from it...

what matters is who gets called aside for the interview

and that the name is main criteria for people for being called apart...

it always depends on the number of other "detainees" in the Homeland security room.

close to 2 hours because:

1. He had to go to a separate room for questioning

2. He had to wait until it was his turn to be questioned (they don't have an endless number of rooms set up with computers and ICE officials)

3. When it was his turn they had to pull up the records and confirm that they matched with his passport

4. They asked a series of questions (taking approximately 20-25 minutes he said

5. They had to note his record in the database and process his entrance into the US

6. They had to bring him back to the immigration area so he could go through.

Sure, we are slow but I hope you never have to sit a wait in an Egyptian or Guatemalan airport. You'll probably miss a meal or 2! :-)

You guys need to get over it or don't come to the US. :-P

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

@ britexpat LOL!!...yeah they'd have to throw in the obligatory song where he cavorts with his lady love in the Swiss alps, a few thousand kms. away before cutting back to the airport...it would take a while eh?...

deedee,neither your son nor this shah rukh khan fellow(for the zillionth time,i'm Indian & proud of it but I HATE BOLLYWOOD & i think the movies they churn out are an insult to our intelligence so i'm NOT standing up for this guy.) should have to be detained for an hour @ an airport of "the world's only superpower" so they can establish his/her credentials,that's the point i'm trying to make here...as for being detained in Doha for an hour,it'd be surprising if it were any less considering the way these guys function,people don't kick up a fuss about that because that's the way things work in this neck of the woods,but this is "developing world/ 3rd world" region,why the comparison to a "developed/1st world" nation?...you're right,just because he made a few movies doesn't make him special but because of who he is,he managed to involve the Indian embassy who vouched for him...what happens to the scores of "joe schmoe Khans" that this is happening to on a regular basis?...my question still remains unanswered...

Yes, it should have taken only 20 minutes, but you know that indian movies always drag on and on and on :O)

As I have said before my small, American son has been detained 3 times now. Everytime it takes about an hour to process the information and figure out he's ok to let in the country. This started when he was 8!!!! Yes, they took a short 8 year old American boy and detained him for an hour, and a 9 year old and an 11 year old boy (just this June). When my older son was detained in the DOHA AIRPORT this June it took about an hour to get clearance. So, SRK or whatever his name is (never heard of him before I moved to Doha) was not detained any longer or less than anyone else. GET OVER IT PEOPLE!

It happens EVERY DAY in EVERY COUNTRY. Just because he has made a few movies doesn't make him special.

P.Chidambaram,one of India's cabinet ministers & part of the trio that changed the face of the Indian economy, a man not known to make off the cuff comments publicly or privately has actually come out & reiterated what i said earlier...his name came up on your system,fine,detain him,10 mins, 20 mins. fine...why did it take over an hour & the intervention of the Indian embassy to establish his credentials??...none of the US supporters/citizens screaming hoarse here justifying their country's ridiculous security procedures seems to have an answer to this & keep referring to "it doesn't matter who he is,no one is above the law in the US,blah blah"...fine,no one is above the law & that's a good thing,being above the law would've meant he didn't get detained at all even if his name came up but that's not what i'm saying,WHY SO LONG to establish his credentials?...and what if he happened to be some poor Indian sod,last name Khan,visiting family or friends or on a holiday to the US,what would've happened to him? 'cos i can tell you,our great Indian embassy wouldn't have done much had it been some nobody,last name Khan...he'd have been detained for a day,maybe more,put on the return flight,had his visa cancelled & GOd knows what else...why? "well his name came up on the system & our crew are too daft to be able to properly establish a person's credentials & to differentiate between a regular guy & a terrorist, so we just send him back,easy option."...all you "we are American we can do no wrong",a name coming up on a system is only HALF the story,establishing the person's credentials is the other half,the half that requires human intelligence & perception,something clearly lacking as has been proved time & again with these incidents & i'm sure will continue to do so...God bless America?...i certainly hope so,divine intervention is their only hope now...

And I also agree, mrmohanad that the incidents you describe ARE valid cases of racism. We will agree to both deplore and to work on those.

Mandi

All security services have to justify their existence. Ho else would they justify their funding ?

I agree Mandilulur that people have become somehow overtly sensitive, but it doesn't mean that real and valid cases do not exist, take for example the Muslim American family that were forced of a an internal flight in the U.S. a few months back just because the passengers of the flight misinterpreted a part of their conversation and almost all of this family members were respectable doctors and lawyers , It is true that the airline apologized but the racial profiling has become an incredibly large net that surrounds people of certain ethnicities and background, even poor Brazilian plumbers can be gunned down in a country with one of the lowest police shooting rates in the world because he looks like a middle eastern.

They need their country become SAFE ........... so KHALLIWALLI sharukhhhhhhhhhhhh..................

No, mrmohanad, it's not Middle Easterners in general that are frisked at Heathrow. It is EVERYONE who does not take off their jewelry when asked. It is ANYONE who says "no" to removing their jacket or belt or bracelet. The security people at Heathrow are then REQUIRED to manually frisk them. I know this because I'm occasionally cantankerous and have refused to remove such items. And I'm a blonde American. I make my choices and I take my lumps. You know, if people would stop assuming discrimination they might find out how the world REALLY works. Then maybe we could all work on those cases of REAL racism.

Mandi

What the surname "khan" has to do with detention? are " khans " not allowed in US?

***~~~~DR.XRAY~~~~***

the Head of the Egyptian orthodox church was manually frisked at Heathrow airport he was actually told to remove his cross while being searched, we are talking about the Christian pope of Egypt, an ailing man in his eighties and he was with a complete entourage from the church with him, so they couldn't have mistaken his Identity, so apparently the west does not just target Muslims but Middle Easterns in general.

if they can't figure out that Shah Rukh Khan is not a terrorist... what chance do they have to identify a real terrorist when they come across one

Shave, get a Christian name... follow the baseball and baskeball scores for a couple of weeks and have a beer bottle in your hand when you are talking to the immigration officer and voila... you are thru...

I'm tired of seeing all of the posts about how Americans are treating visitors at the airports... What about Americans living in America...they are getting picked on to, that's why they don't care about Bollywood actors being questioned for 66 minutes, nor do they probably even know who they are...

Check out this website:

http://www.fff.org/freedom/fd0806c.asp

Excerpt:

TSA agents can slap fines on Americans based on “attitude,” which TSA classifies as one of the “aggravating factors” in determining financial punishments. TSA has issued no guidance on the precise amount of obligatory groveling at airport checkpoints. People who question TSA commands are probably far more likely to be fined.

As others have pointed out in the previous posts, we've even detained our own celebrities - Bob Dylan...happened same time in same state. If we even do this to our own celebrities, what makes any other visiting nationality think they're exempt?

America is not as "free" as everyone thinks it is.

Forgot that one! That was scary because there were armed guards in SWAT uniforms.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Questioned in Mexico, Egypt, Kuwait and US....

Remind me never to travel with you !

A terrorist sees no border and what more than in the name. Terrorist related incidents happening these days have relation to muslims. Its no wonder that the US is very much phobia on this, given that they are the priority target. So its the US right to screen all potential personalities or these potential wannabe's for the sake of the home land security.

a suspect sould be questioned and its good for every ones safety, and khan or brad pitt or any such celeberity is not above law or suspicion , remeber it was sanjay dutt another famous actor who helped dawood ibrahim in bombay bomb blasts

sharuk is not a diplomat nor a minister nor a former envoy to get special treatment

forget about this incident protest aganist the most beloved president abdul kalam being brisked in India by american arilines staff

regarding muslim names are in suscipion list is regrettable but its due to the thousnds of organizations which gave a bad name to islam.

Mexico, Egypt, Kuwait and US -- and no one came to help me! Not even in the US, my own country!!!! :-P

But then I am not a VIP :-(

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

i was questioned at the doha airport a couple of time while comming back from vacation.......why the indian embassy dont come to help?

Aana free, jaana free,

Pakde gaye tho khana free.

do what they thought appropriate, including shutting out Continental if they thought it was such a big deal. However, money talks and the company and your country decided to keep doing business.

Thank you for restating your comment about white Americans. I always find it curious when people of color (whether Indian, African, Asian, Latin, etc.) complain about the ill effects of racism on their people, but are quick to be racist towards white people. It just doesn't make sense to me.

However, stating "they're multi-cultural/multi-racial & are ALL unaware of the existence of a whole world OUTSIDE of the US" is another gross generalization and inaccurate, so I take issue with that, as well. I find it much better to be accurate when you are discussing sensitive issues like race and culture. It is not correct to imply that Americans have no knowledge of the world outside US borders. Some are very well informed and have traveled widely. Others have not. It is probably the same way in India.....

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

PM the american airline was almost barred from serving India had their top management not profusely apologized for their actions...a clear enough indication,in my opinion that they made a mistake...so it wasn't policy,they just screwed up(weather the fact that the ex-president like shah rukh khan is muslim had anything to do with it is anyone's guess.)...apologies on the racial attack,i rephrase,they're multi-cultural/multi-racial & are ALL unaware of the existence of a whole world OUTSIDE of the US...you're spot on in that they are FAR from efficient & effective & their current attitude of "we didn't make a mistake,we never make a mistake" isn't helping matters...they would, in all likelihood earn way more respect by admitting they made a mistake,NOT by detaining him but for taking over an hour & the intervention of the Indian embassy to establish his credentials...

And make a fan of verm in the process -- lol

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

"White America"? I can assure you that ICE is a multi-racial organization, as are our law making bodies.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

changes that folks are complaining about now. My personal opinion is also that we are still not very efficient and effective, so I would welcome any improvement.

As for the situation with your former president, that was discussed pretty thoroughly here. He was flying an American airline and that seemed to be their policy. You can always bar them from serving India. Your country, your rules.... just like in the US :-P

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

PM...your "US security" allowed Mohd. Atta one of the 9/11 bombers free entry & exit into & out of the US AFTER he was positively id'd as being part of an active Al-Qaeda cell,how?...simple,he realized how clueless the yanks are & got a new passport with a different surname,Al Amer instead of Atta,that's it,that's all it took for him to breeze past your "top level security"...on more than one occassion before he committed his crime...so please mate,save the lecture on "same rules apply for everyone" for someone who doesn't know the score...Our former President was frisked in Delhi BEFORE boarding his flight NOT in the US,former presidents irrespective of nationality aren't going to personally bomb anything,anyone with half a brain knows that,unfortunately,the same can't be said for a large % of white america,completely & utterly clueless about the world but "oh we have security measures in place"...needs the former to make the latter truly effective my friend...otherwise your country just ends up being the laughing stock of the world...as it is now...i've already stated very clearly that there was absolutely nothing wrong in initially detaining shah rukh khan,my issue is with the fact that it took those morons over an hour to establish his credentials,that too after the Indian embassy intervened,that is security ok but it's very ineffective security because it's being conducted with complete unawareness...i for one am not saying the US should lower/change their security measures...what they need is some lessons in global general knowledge,something they quite obviously severely lack as they keep proving time & again...

Well who's surprised about his news i wouldnt be surprised if somebody was taken to gitmo because the name is a muslim name or his name was osama bin laden thats just how stupid the american government is and how stupid they are to think americans will actually believe them. Maybe the major disadvantage of america is that its too damn powerfull for its own good and thats why the politicians over there dont care about the people and only about the power. I bet obama will be more happy if he wasnt elected as president. He was obviously too unlucky to carry bush's wrong-doings

I had no Idea Khan was a Muslim name; that's why Kirk was so pissed about him.

I am lost for words...

well said

I am a fan!

It's been a pleasure.. I bid you a very good night and leave you with this :O)

"People can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders...All you have to do is tell them they're being attacked and denounce the pacifists for a lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

Hermann Goering (Second in command to Hitler)

on our rights as American citizens, but airport security measures and immigration policies are not among them. I am referring to things like long-term imprisonment at GITMO without trials; access to our library records, unlawful wiretaps. The policies regarding airport security and immigration seem reasonable to me; although I would agree that in many cases I find them to be poorly managed or ineffective,

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

...So that he stops torturing us with his overacting and horrible movies...Good Riddance...;)

Aamir is uncomparable. SRK is too small for his own media image....acting wise.

Source:

- A study Conducted by FriedUnicorn - Vol I (September,1999)

I said sadly because usually the innocent majority get sucked into these things also.

I agree that security is neccessary. I agree that many are complaining since it is the USA.

I personally feel that security agencies in MANY countries are using 9/11 and 7/7 as an excuse to infringe on the civil liberties of people.

I don't understand why it is being called racial profiling. Muslims aren't a race !! You could perhaps call it religious profiling.

I think it someone goes to another country, that person is/can be subject to the screening procedures of that country. No one asked Shahrukh Khan to go to USA !!

I think what was done is fair. Michael Douglas's son was caught with boatloads of crystal meth and faces life in prison despite has father being a very popular and award winning actor.

I can imagine if a similar thing had happened in India .... out of jail in a couple of months.

profiling is a useful tool used by law enforcement all over the world. If you know that a white woman has committed certain crimes and are trying to root her out to prevent future crimes, why would you waste your time on looking at every race and gender just so you can be PC?

The fact is, that there is evidence to suggest that certain Muslim groups would like to harm certain targets. 9/11, 7/7, Mumbai, Bali, the Jordanian Wedding party at a hotel, the Madrid train bombings, the Sharm el-Sheikh bombing, Khobar towers have made that abundantly clear. Do you also complain when India takes necessary measures to prevent another attack like the ones in Mumbai?

What I see is a lot of people complaining because it is the US and we make a great target. :-)

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

I said .."....sadly those fitting a certain profile tend to be stopped more than others. Fact of life after 9/11."

You are one of the "others".. :O)

Alexa, must be the black mask and startling blue eyes that get them wondering! LOL

you've been to Qatar... Muslim country... so you are a potential terrorist... that's why...

may be they can't google it... cos may be... they don't have internet there...

and secondly, his status as a Bollywood star was not the issue.

Now I wonder who is stooopid.... you just can't seem to get it....

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

how long would that take? definitely not two hours...

doesn't require too much 'intelligence' you know...

granted they may not know him

but if they need 2 hours to realize that he's an international star

that's not cos he's not international

its cos they are stoopid...

Some of us are being rather naive here. Racial profiling does take place and sadly those fitting a certain profile tend to be stopped more than others. Fact of life after 9/11.

The individual immigration officer is also pretty free to stop whomsoever he/she wishes. So, some bias may exist there also.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

International?? Do they know who he is in Itally or Spain? Korea? Just because Indians around the middle east love him and think hes god, does that make him international??? American hollywwod stars ARE international coz its not just american who follow them.

So stop calling him international coz no other nationality outside of indians have heard of this freak and his gay friends.

ok guys time to sleep .. laters

well... in much the same way... common sense is not American Immigration Officers cup of tea either...

I fly in and out of US airports frequently and see all kinds of people going through extra security procedures.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

i am not surprised cause after 9\11 , islam became a phobia for the americans...so i guess this is a normal reaction...as for this man being a star in india , well that comes under the category of sending subliminal messages : even if ur a well known star , and we're 100% sure ur not a terrorist...we are going to search your luggage and ask you silly questions....

they know very well that people will be talking about the incident...so the message will be clear to everyone "we wont cut some slack even if u were sha roo khan"...

************************************

One summer night, going to the pier,

I ran into two young girls.

The blonde was called Freedom,

The dark one, Enterprise.

Never saw that movie.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

FS coffe this time ? lol yalla have dinner :P

lol verisi ... :)

Is it? Unfortunately politics is not my Cup of tea:(

ok PM just one question . Is the US unduly harsh to those with Muslim names from india ?

Big International film star? I never heard of the Guy until today! Suck it up folks, if you fit the suspect travelers profile, you are going to get a pull once in a while. being a single male traveling alone Ive had a few. Pre and Post 911

'No Comments'... do you know those are the most intelligent words spoken by most politicians from GeorgeBushisthan?

Verisi...lol no coments.......

Actually I was talking about the movie 'The Terminal'

Pervez Musharraf is friends with George Bush

They love the Pakis in GeorgeBushisthan

By verisimilitude at 2009-08-17

and politicians; we treat them like everyone else when it comes to our security policies!

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

the officials. If I don't like it; I won't go.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

launched against me by your countryman and just read what I have written here.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

verisi there is many pakis name with khan .. thats wat i meant

SEE we shuld know that every country has their own rule and regulation, its because of shah rukh khan everyone makes news, just imagine , if its like normal people, no one make this as issue, that time we pepole will not comment..so without blaming , indian security also should be tighten like anything, they should check each and every foreign citizen, wheteher its obama or not.bu when obamas house maid come here we will not check, we will give vvip treatment, these type of attitude should not be entertained among indian bureaucast

well PM .. first our ex president now bollywwod star .. next who ? our prime minister manmohan singh ? plzz PM just think urself .. ur rules is fair or not ? if we start like US immigration ? wat u will say ? i am sure u will say its racist ...

Tom Hanks was held back at JFK...

Do you know that Pajju???

Do you know that???

Which Paki in his right mind would go to the US?

way you do. We don't care if you subject Cage to security procedures. In fact, when we come to your country we expect to abide by your rules.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

This is GeorgeBushisthan... once the recession is over, they'll probably be asking for aid from India and China...

verisi so u mean sharukh is terrorist ? if khan terrorist how paki will go to US ?

verici they cannot .. some asians playing with asians with US passport ..

That's just not the same...

Our customs officials are smart enuff to understand that an international celebrity like Nicolas Cage cannot be a terrorist

you expect the same IQ for people from GeorgeBushisthan????

You need to differentiate between racism and plain stupidity or blind hatred... she's not being racist... she's just being stupid... and she hates Indians...

You should have said...

pls stop ur stupidity...

or pls stop ur anti Indian hate mongering...

PM u did ... WHO CARES THAT HE IS A BIG BOLLYWOOD STAR???? ... wat does this mean ? nicolas cgae came india million time .. we did anything to him ?

No US passport... fortunately...

I wonder if Nelson Mandela when he travels to the US.. if he too would be detained for questioning...

Anythings possible man...

they elected George Bush for President...

TWICE...

I expect that kind of comment from your friend, but am surprised to see you turn this into an attack on me... :-(

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

verisi ur asian and u holdong us passport .. so ur white ?

which trailer park was it?

Please bear in mind that Americans are complete idiots when it comes to anything that's outside their borders... How do you expect them to realize that an international film star like Shah Rukh is not a terrorist... they need two hours to sort that out... of course...

and PM i know u r origin so plzz just stop ur racism

I just think it is a cultural difference. We just view things differently with regard to social status. :-)

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

PM u just dunt care plzzz

Sorry but you guys let your idolization of "VIPs" color your opinion of how the rest of the world should think and act. If Tom Hanks was questioned politely for 66 minutes upon arriving in India, I seriously doubt he would kick up a fuss and complain about racial profiling and flying while white.

If you don't like the way US officials handle security, then don't go there and don't fly our airlines (I try to avoid them anyway because their service is so bad -- lol). But if you do go there, accept the fact that we do things differently than in your home countries. I know I do. When I travel anywhere I don't expect them to do things the way we do in the US. It's really common sense.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

everyone with the name "Khan". SRK is the only one who said that the reason he was questioned was because his name is Khan. ICE officials have not made that statement so I think we can't assume.

As I have stated -- and others confirmed -- this happens to plenty of other "VIPs" and no one says anything. I guess it is too hard to resist exploiting the "Islamophobia" or "Racial profiling" angle.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

....................................................................................

सोनम दि नेपाली बाबु

....................................................................................

After the incident, he has changed his name to:

Shane Rock Cane ..

To be straight forward, they will stringently check any names that are thought to be muslims. Sorry to say that, but thats the norm already. It was their believed that any muslims have the potential to become one, or commonly called the sleeper cells by the west.

am saying... use your common sense... please!!!!!!!

not that I mind... I hate SRK... I wish they detained him forever...

agree with you a 100%

If Tom Hanks were to come to India, they wouldn't pull him aside for special security screening... cos they know who he is... and they know he's not a terrorist

did they actually take 66 minutes or two hours to realize that this is India's biggest movie star... what pathetic security!!

My colleague told me how once he was pulled aside for special questioning... cos he had a beard... and yeah he was muslim... so was I BTW... I am muslim too...

Anyway... while he was waiting there... one of the guys who had been detained suddenly disappeared and they panicked... ran checks and it had been caught on camera that he somehow managed to leave the airport... cool as a cucumber... some security huh? :-)

Firstly SRK doesn't need 2 do such antics to promote his movie, It wud be a hit anyway, I dont like him one bit but millions of people back home do so it wud be a hit no matter what.

Secondly Even if US officials do it to everybody with the surname Khan, It doesn't make it right now, does it?? do they check every1 with a christian last name, guess not.. So stop kidding urself, the issue got highlighted becoz he had the contacts 2 highlight it, so many regular guys must b suffering becoz of US paranoia.

" Dont take life too seriously, you will never get out alive!!!"

It seems we are different from India in the sense of setting some people above others as deserving of divine treatment :-P

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

and entering the US together. But I hadn't thought of reporting him after we divorced... hmmmm ....lol

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

fair enough & point taken Mandi...anyways my issue wasn't why he was detained but why after that it took him getting Indian embassy officials to vouch for him to let him go,ok so he's a big star & could pull strings...what happens to a "Joe Schmoe The Nobody",last name Khan who gets indefinitely detained,merely because his skin is brown & his name is Khan,who's going to vouch for his innocence?...and as for ICE laws not applicable to diplomats,i guess the former president & former head of the space programme of the world's largest democracy doesn't meet the criteria for diplomats huh?...c'mon mate,who're we kidding here?...had those clueless morons @ Delhi airport known who he was,he wouldn't have been subjected to that frisking...the fact that the airline officials profusely & publicly apologized after the incident is statement enough of that i presume...my issue isn't about US laws,it's about the lack of awareness in the US leading to issues such as these...

And the authorities were damn right to do what they did! Can you imagine if they'd ignored a threat and it turned out to have some basis? In fact, there are laws in the US about not to ignoring or not publicizing a threat. Back in the 80's the US Embassies received word of a possible terrorist attack on a US carrier. They notified some of their employees not to take American planes back to the States for Christmas. Pan Am 103 was blown out of the sky and some of the families sued because of withheld information. Richard Reid, the infamous "shoe bomber" certainly looked too stupid to carry out a threat but investigation revealed he could have done some significant damage to that American Airlines 767.

Mandi

A man in Sweden who was angry with his daughter’s husband has been charged with libel for telling the FBI that the son-in-law had links to al-Qaeda, Swedish media reported on Friday.

The man, who admitted sending the email, said he did not think the US authorities would be stupid enough to believe him.

The 40-year-old son-in-law and his wife were in the process of divorcing when the husband had to travel to the United States for business.

The wife didn’t want him to travel since she was sick and wanted him to help care for their children, regional daily Sydsvenska Dagbladet said without disclosing the couple’s names.

When the husband refused to stay home, his father-in-law wrote an email to the FBI saying the son-in-law had links to al-Qaeda in Sweden and that he was traveling to the US to meet his contacts.

He provided information on the flight number and date of arrival in the US.

True Story..

The son-in-law was arrested upon landing in Florida. He was placed in handcuffs, interrogated and placed in a cell for 11 hours before being put on a flight back to Europe, the paper said.

The FBI contacted Swedish intelligence agency Saepo, which discovered that the email tipping off the FBI had been sent from the father-in-law’s computer.

The father-in-law has been charged with aggravated libel.

He has admitted sending the email, but said he didn’t think “the authorities were so stupid that they would believe anything. But apparently they are.”

He said he “couldn’t help the US authorities’ paranoid reaction”.

Sorry, gadarene, although your arguments are logical and articulate I must disagree. In the US we believe that "justice is blind." That is, we hold dear the value that it doesn't matter who you are, or who you think you are, or even who other people think you are, you are subject to the same laws and procedures as "Joe Schmoe the Nobody." No one should claim special privilege with the old "do you know who I am" claim. The only persons exempt from ICE laws are diplomats. I'm sorry Mr. What's-His-Name felt insulted. We ALL do when our number or name comes up for "special screening." He just needs to suck it up, stop screaming and above all, stop using this blown-out-of-proportion incident to publicize his latest movie which just happens to be (I am told) a film about how the US discriminates against Muslims named Khan. If you believe all he's saying, I have a bridge for sale.

Mandi

Americans are CLUELESS...& no,i hate bollywood & can't stand that idiot shahrukh khan & the rest of his bolywood poser bunch but the fact remains that he's a well-known personality & the same applies to Dr.Abdul Kalam,former president of India & father of the space programme who was subjected to a humiliating body search by US airline authorities in Delhi or Bombay airport a couple of weeks back...my point is this,the yanks,most of 'em,not all & you who're not know i'm not referring to you & also know that most of your bretheren are indeed blissfully unaware about the goings-on in the rest of the world & that there actually is a world OUTSIDE of North America...ONLY lack of awareness leads to such incidents...fine,his name came up on a list,they asked him to step aside,questioned him,so far so good,after this point had there been a single one of those guys who actually read the papers(the whole thing including world affairs & not just american football/baseball updates & the funnies) or watched the news(a channel that actually shows world news as opposed to local town incidents),something would've rung a bell somewhere right?...don't get me wrong here,i've already made very clear my dislike for room temperature IQ,leave your brains @ home kind of trash that bollywood churns out but the fact is,i'm the minority,there's a whole world out there,Indian & otherwise who consider this guy a big star,i'm not saying they should've let him waltz through despite his name coming up on their list,but the fact that he had to get Indian embassy officials to vouch for him just goes to show the level of unawareness,i'm honestly fuming about the way these numbskulls subjected our former President, no less,to a humiliating body search...like he's going to blow himself up...the fact that they apologized profusely after the incident created an uproar in parliment is besides the point...it shouldn't have happened & please don't lecture me on "US security measures"...we're talking about a former President of the world's largest democracy here not some obscure island somewhere(with all due respect to obscure islands,just trying to emphasize a point here.)...well the yanks keep showing themselves up to be dumber each time an incident like this occurs...if that is even possible...

I like your style.. So, you reported your ex-husband to the authorities and he was detained ? :O)

know a Bollywood actor if they fell over him,,,,nor would a Canadian....

Star Trek is better anyway...

I thought Gengish Khan return from the dead, and questioning by the US regarding how to conquer the asia.

__________________________________________

Life is short...300 meter before roundabout!

You've got to be kidding! I thought the "My Name is Khan" thing is a joke! If this whole episode is a publicity stunt then I hope ICE (new name for INS) lodges some sort of complaint against him. You really DON'T mess with these guys even if you think you're a big star.

Mandi

Cops found Bob Dylan wnadering a low-income neighborhood in NJ. Did he throw a fuss? No.

That Black professor in MA gave cops attitude and he got what was coming to him.

I suspect this dude did gave them I'm-Mr.-Bollywood,-a-billion-people-know-my-face-and-I-have-been-to-the-States-a-dozen-times and the INS detained him, like they should.

By the way, I saw this guy on TV sometime ago and he said something about how the Moslems were treated at the airports in the States.

My guess is he was expecting something and the INS guys sensed something was up. I am pretty sure nothing as warped as "Moslem name" or crap like that.

It was not 2 hours. It was 66 minutes -- closer to one hour. He was not "detained"; he was questioned according to procedure when someone enters the country under a new visa or passport (happened to my ex-husband, too). He was treated professionally and courteously by all accounts -- even his!

There is no evidence that he was told it was because his name was "Khan" but that story does fit nicely with the fact that he is publicizing his most recent films entitled "My name is Khan" which is about Muslim racial profiling in the US.

Does this just all seem a bit too convenient? Hollywood -- or Bollywood -- couldn't have scripted a better way to get his film in the media spotlight; especially in the US where Bollywood takes a back seat to the more popular Hollywood industry.

Bollywood actor questioned

U.S. customs officials yesterday disputed claims that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was detained for two hours at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, saying he was questioned for a little over an hour as part of the standard process for screening foreign travelers.

Khan, one of the Indian film industry's biggest stars, is in the United States to promote his new film, My Name is Khan, which is about racial profiling. He told the Press Trust of India that he was detained because his name came up on a computer alert list.

The report made top news on TV stations in India. Khan was let go after Indian Embassy officials intervened, the Press Trust of India said.

U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection spokesman Elmer Camacho told the Associated Press that Khan was questioned as part of a routine process that took 66 minutes.

Source: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20090816_In_the_Nation.html

BTW: Bob Dylan was detained and questioned at a New York airport last month -- and nobody cried foul for that!

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

maybe he just wobbled his head at the wrong question.

some times we must go through it , just because ........at right time - in the wrong place. I guess its just a stunt Khan trying tom pull off and gain publicity for his new film " my name is khan "

Somtimes immigration man stop me and ask mucho questions it ok it he job

I not go America for job but I undertsand his job he make safe for other peoples

Same thing hapen when I come Qatar man ask question for one hour! He not know Belize I tell him it pretty

the other side is , every one is under the scanner now ..... can anybody tell me what happens to people who don't have a sir name khan but still get detained at the airport. well just forget that its a routine security check , dont blow it out of proportion just because he is sharuk Khan.

My son has been detained and questioned 3 times now in the US. And we are Americans. It happens all the time, for various reasons. This first happened when my son was 8 years old. Someone reported a lost or stolen passport---but gave the wrong passport number--my sons. I have been to the Embassy to try to sort it out--they said there was no problem. I got my son a new passport even. Still we continue to have the same problem.

By the way--we were also detained for an hour at the Doha airport this june. My other sons name is on a "blacklist" He is 14. So I guess Qatar is just as bad as US in that regard.

Alexa...because you're a sexy bomb! :P

I wish to spend 2 hours doing a "complete body check" :)

Ooopssss....Mr. Alexa..jockin', man!

Whaaat?

Nooo..no gun!

Pleaseee...

.

.

CLICK..BOOOM!

.

R.I.P. Drac!

Probably some of the wanted Talibans terrorist surname started with "Khan". I don't blame the US security in doing their job well.

I think I said TSA -- but I guess they are the folks there when you are going out.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

All we have is his statement and the statement of his manager that he was detained because of his name. I suspect that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement - not TSA, for heaven's sake - did not explain to him their concerns. Their only comment was that his name was on a watch list. So is my husband's name and his is the equivalent of "John Smith." It happens, get over it!

Mandi

Either they are too dumb or they did it deliberately...

If keeping security means holding back and questioning for 2hrs and more every "Khan" or such name then it is a very naive approach to maintain security.

Terrorist are definitely not coming in to blow up the country under their registered IDs....come on....

The Hindi movie "New York" very well addresses this issue.

They probably spent two hours trying to work out the intricacies of his last film plot ..

lol rms....or they could have even asked a question on QL.

Aana free, jaana free,

Pakde gaye tho khana free.

Mayb they were just asking for phone numbers of bollywood heroines.

" Dont take life too seriously, you will never get out alive!!!"

questioned for two hours... ??

WTF ? atleast they could have Google it .. :-)

--

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."

-Mahatma Gandhi..

rMs..!!

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Yeah the Bollywood movie can be named Wrath of Khan II.

Might as well detain everyone named Patel or Smith, there must be dozens of Khans who enter US every week. Idiots.

-----

A wise young crackpot knows no fear - Ian Dury.

"MY NAME IS KHAN" MEET & GREET @ USA

.

Photo:

Shahrukh Khan:attending a meet and greet event with his fans on Friday 3rd July 2009 at the Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, USA

they mst have been put intrigued by his claim for being a celebrity, he looks like an *****

"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME

visit www.qaws.org

You realise what this means...

Ther'll be a Bollywood movie in the offing now..

Sharukh arrested.. Home land security baddies.. Passing aircrew in tight bright dresses bursting into song..

ke ke ke kiran in one of his movie.... can you say it again ...

may be he was practicing

ke ke ke kiran ....

because of his name:

Khan, known as the "King of Bollywood", said he was questioned at Newark Airport in Newark, New Jersey, for two hours but was let go after the Indian embassy in the United States intervened.

Khan "is a Muslim name and I think the name is common on their checklist", the 43-year-old actor told an Indian television station by telephone from Chicago.

Khan, named as one of the top 50 most influential men in the world in 2008 by US magazine Newsweek, was detained by US immigration officers early Saturday.

[...]

"I did not want to say anything just in case they took everything wrong because I am little worried about Americans because they do have this issue when your name is Muslim," he added.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iKVkUpEyEnprYKsiOjcexBS3KH-Q

It was stupid, but I would like to hear what the TSA people have to say.

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

and that probably WAS because of his zombie look -- lol

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

for 2 hours and how long it took them to figure out who he was -- lol

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Dick chenny, Ozzy osbourne are not indian's may be thats one of the reason.

Aana free, jaana free,

Pakde gaye tho khana free.

It's just like of authories in ME and Asia start detating every John and David

ALLAH HU AKBAR - GOD IS GREAT

and no one ever questioned him :-P

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

He has a Zombie look when not in make-up may be because of that.

Aana free, jaana free,

Pakde gaye tho khana free.

since I'm not so sure they are making us any more secure ;-P

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Do they have ANY idea how common the name Khan is? We have a bunch of American citizens with that name!!!

I didn't drink the kool-aid! -- PM

actor and not being recognised in the US....

"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME

visit www.qaws.org

Those Homeland Security idiots.. I request all Indians in the USA to write to their congressmen to complain. I also hope that the India government will now pull out of the nuclear agreement with the USA..