NEW YORK: The US Customs and Border Protection officials detained boxing great Muhammad Ali’s son at a Filorida airport. A report in USA today said Mohammad Ali Jr, was held at the Fort Lauderdale airport and grilled about his religion upon arriving from Jamaica. Ali Jr and his mother “were pulled aside while going through customs because of their Arabic-sounding names, according to family friend and lawyer Chris Mancini,” the newspaper reported.

AP adds: Chris Mancini told the Courier-Journal that 44-year-old Ali Jr and his mother Khalilah Camacho-Ali, the second wife of Mohammad Ali, arrived at the airport on Feb 7. Mancini said officials questioned Ali Jr for nearly two hours, repeatedly asking him, “Where did you get your name from?” and “Are you Muslim?” Mancini said officials continued questioning Ali Jr after acknowledging that he was Muslim.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2017