Muslim accountant going on holiday to Georgia is thrown out of the country by airport officials 'because he has a BEARD'
- Indian national Jainulabedin Hakimji was sent packing by security officials
- Hakijmi, 36, was planning a three-day holiday to celebrate Muslim New Year
- But the father-of-three was 'treated like a criminal' by staff at border control
- Said he was not allowed to use the bathroom while waiting for return flight
An accountant going on holiday to Georgia was thrown out of the country by airport officials because of his beard, he has claimed.
Indian national Jainulabedin Hakimji, who has been living in the UAE for eight years, was looking forward to a three-day holiday in the European nation.
But the 36-year-old was stopped at border control and ‘treated like a criminal’, he claims.
He insisted that he was not even allowed to use the toilet while waiting for a return flight to his home country.
Both Mr Hakimji and his colleague, who was allowed through border control without a hitch, were travelling with the same UAE resident visa and were from the same country.
Mr Hakimji, who has been a chartered accountant for 14 years, insisted that the only difference between them was that his colleague was ‘clean-shaven’.
‘When she saw me the lady at the counter immediately called over another officer and directed me to the last counter in the row, without looking at my passport,’ the father-of-three told Gulf News.
‘They said they couldn’t let me in for security reasons. But they did not let me in because of my appearance.’
He added: ‘I am a Muslim and I follow the religion strictly, which is why I have a long beard.’
The pair of holidaymakers were travelling from Dubai to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi on October 14, for a three-day break to celebrate the Islamic New Year.
‘While waiting for the flight back, there was an officer assigned to watch me,’ he continued.
Dream destination: Mr Hakimji claimed that he was guarded by a security official and not even allowed to use the bathroom while waiting for a return flight to Dubai. Pictured, the Georgian capital of Tbilisi
‘I wanted to go to the washroom but he said I was not allowed to go. They treated me as if I was a criminal.’
Georgia can deny entry to a traveller for not having the necessary travel documents; for forging documents or giving false information; for not having enough funds; or if the person is suspected to be planning to stay in Georgia illegally after their visa expires.
Mr Hakimji was allegedly told by security officials that the next time he visits Georgia, he should make it clear on the form that is he Indian, rather than a UAE resident.
Sent packing: The father-of-three who has been living in the UAE (pictured, Abu Dhabi) for eight years, had planned a three-day holiday with a colleague to celebrate the Islamic New Year, but he claims he was stopped at border control and 'treated like a criminal'
The Georgian embassy in Kuwait, which has jurisdiction over the UAE, insisted that the accusation is baseless.
It said: ‘The accusation that Mr Hakimji was denied entry because he’s a Muslim and because of his appearance is completely wrong, because Georgia has opened its borders to Muslim countries.’
A Georgian official told the Gulf Times that it is at the discretion of border control officials as to whether they allow travellers to enter the country.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3295099/Muslim-accountant-going-holiday-Georgia-thrown-country-airport-officials-BEARD.html#ixzz3q1xcqvOK
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