Islamic orator Azhari denied boarding on London flight

Islamic orator Mizanur Rahman Azhari was denied boarding a Qatar Airways flight to London at Doha airport on Wednesday.

The Bangladeshi orator, who is currently based in Malaysia, was travelling to the UK to attend an Islamic conference at the invitation of the satellite television channel ION TV UK, according to media reports.

Azhari, who had flown into Doha from Kuala Lumpur, was denied boarding by the airline authorities. 

The Islamic orator spent 12 hours at the Doha airport trying to resolve the issue, but Qatar Airways did not allow him to board due to not getting the nod from British immigration.

Azhari later obtained a 96-hour transit visa to try and resolve the issue in the meantime.

ION TV Chief Executive Officer Ataullah Faruque declined to comment.

The satellite TV channel will host Islamic congregations in five cities in the UK, including London, which are supposed to start Sunday.

Azhari’s invitation to the events has elicited mixed reactions from the Bangladeshi diaspora in the country.

In 2020, the Bangladesh government banned Azhari from preaching at congregations due to his controversial statements.