The Icelandic Taekwondo champion, Meisam Rafiei, who was ejected from a flight to the US yesterday, and barred from participating in the US Open in Las Vegas on behalf of Iceland, on the basis of Donald Trump's travel ban, will be allowed to travel to the US, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports. Maisam was contacted by the US Embassy in Iceland earlier today, informing him of this.
Maisam told RÚV that he would be allowed to travel as an athlete entering an international competition. Previously the embassy had told RÚV in a written statement that Maisam would not be allowed to travel to the US. The Icelandic government had protested the decision.
Read more: US Embassy: No exemptions from Trump's travel ban for Icelandic citizens
On Monday Meisam had boarded the plane from Keflavík to the United States where he will compete in the US Open on behalf of Iceland, when a member of the cabin crew informed him that he would not be allowed to fly to the US.
Meisam, who is 30 years old, was born in Iran, but became an Icelandic citizen in 2012. He holds a dual Icelandic-Iranian citizenship and an Icelandic passport. He has competed on Iceland's behalf in Taekwondo, becoming the Nordic champion in men's Taekwondo. He has also been the coach of the Icelandic men's team in Taekwondo.
Read more: Trump's travel ban: Icelandic Taekwondo champion barred from competing in the US Open
Meisam's case has sparked outrage in Iceland, with thousands sharing Maisam's Facebook about being barred from the travelling to the US.
The Icelandic Taekwondo champion, Meisam Rafiei, who was ejected from a flight to the US yesterday, and barred from participating in the US Open in Las Vegas on behalf of Iceland, on the basis of Donald Trump's travel ban, will be allowed to travel to the US, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports. Maisam was contacted by the US Embassy in Iceland earlier today, informing him of this.
Maisam told RÚV that he would be allowed to travel as an athlete entering an international competition. Previously the embassy had told RÚV in a written statement that Maisam would not be allowed to travel to the US. The Icelandic government had protested the decision.
Read more: US Embassy: No exemptions from Trump's travel ban for Icelandic citizens
On Monday Meisam had boarded the plane from Keflavík to the United States where he will compete in the US Open on behalf of Iceland, when a member of the cabin crew informed him that he would not be allowed to fly to the US.
Meisam, who is 30 years old, was born in Iran, but became an Icelandic citizen in 2012. He holds a dual Icelandic-Iranian citizenship and an Icelandic passport. He has competed on Iceland's behalf in Taekwondo, becoming the Nordic champion in men's Taekwondo. He has also been the coach of the Icelandic men's team in Taekwondo.
Read more: Trump's travel ban: Icelandic Taekwondo champion barred from competing in the US Open
Meisam's case has sparked outrage in Iceland, with thousands sharing Maisam's Facebook about being barred from the travelling to the US.
