French mum stopped from entering US 'because her name sounds like Al Qaeda'

Updated
Woman holding French European passport, indoors, close up of passport
Woman holding French European passport, indoors, close up of passport


A French woman flying to America for a family holiday was banned from entering the country 'because her name sounds like Al Qaeda'.

Aida Alic, reading as Alic Aida in her French passport, was preparing to board a flight to the States from Geneva Airport on Wednesday when she was told by Swiss Airlines that her access to the country had been denied.

According to The Local, the 33-year-old was travelling to New York with her two children and her husband.

Speaking to Dauphiné Libéré, she said: "At first I thought it was a joke, then I realised our trip was not going to happen.

"To be on a blacklist like a terrorist, you become paranoid."

The mum, from the Savoie region in south-eastern France, could only think of one reason why she was stopped - her name.

"Alic Aida, Al Qaeda. When friends make the play on words to try and pull my leg, I am used to it, but not this. Especially since my name is actually pronounced Alitch. It is of Yugoslav origin. And now here I am labelled as a risk."

The Daily Telegraph reports that Aida had even painted her nails with the American flag in preparation for the trip but her family were left 2,700 euros out of pocket because their holiday was non-refundable.

Alic contacted the American consulate in Lyon to find out why she was barred from America but was unable to find out.



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