Scientist of Indian-orgin denied entry to US

DURBAN: An Indian-origin political scientist from South Africa has been permanently denied entry to the United States apparently for his anti-America ideology.

"I am totally dumbfounded," said Adam Habib, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, who has been denied visa many a times.

Habib said he had received a letter informing him that he would not allowed into the United States again.

"Over the past year I have been invited by four organisations to visit the United States to participate in academic lectures. But have been denied entry on each occasion. It seems that I am being put into the same category as a terrorist", said Habib.

"I have criticised America in my commentaries and lectures but I have never propagated violence or terrorism. It is absurd to think that I am regarded as a terrorist."

Habib said the Professors Association of the United States had invited him to talk about freedom of association and freedom of speech in June next year but it now seemed that he would not be able to travel to America.

"The academic associations in America are taking up my case and that of 22 other academics who have been denied entry. It seems that both academics who are of the Muslim faith and of other faiths who have been denied entry for criticising the United States policies", said Habib.