The contestant claims her software was rejected as a result of she was born in Damascus
A 29-year-old magnificence queen and NHS trainee who was set to signify the UK within the Mrs World Ultimate has reportedly had her visa to enter the US rejected forward of the competitors resulting from her Syrian background.
Talking to the BBC on Friday, Leen Clive accused the US authorities of discriminating in opposition to her as a result of she was born in Syria, regardless of now being a British citizen.
“I utilized with a British passport. I’m representing Britain and I am a British citizen, so I had no concept I might be banned from the US,” Clive informed the broadcaster.
“My husband and my child woman had their visas granted, however mine was refused – and the one distinction is my hometown,” she mentioned.
Clive was born in Damascus however moved to the UK in 2013, the place she has realized to talk English and is at present coaching to grow to be an NHS physician. Previous to competing within the thirty fifth annual Mrs World competitors, she had additionally campaigned for feminine high quality and refugee rights.
Immigration guidelines on the US authorities web site at present stipulate that residents of nations which use “state-sponsored terrorism” should be interviewed by an American consular officer. Syria is among the many international locations listed as having “repeatedly offered assist for acts of worldwide terrorism.”
Clive mentioned she is interesting with the US Embassy to vary its determination and grant her visa earlier than the competitors begins on January 15.
US officers mentioned they’re unable to touch upon the precise case, as “visa data are confidential underneath US legislation.”
That is the most recent controversy to hit the Mrs World pageant. Final 12 months, the Mrs Sri Lanka part of the competitors made worldwide headlines after a magnificence queen allegedly injured a contestant in an on-stage incident.
Caroline Jurie, then-the reigning Mrs World, pulled the crown off Pushpika De Silva, leaving her reportedly needing remedy for head accidents. Jurie had claimed that De Silva was unable to obtain the crown as a result of she was separated from her husband.
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