DETROIT: Arab-American and civil rights groups are protesting Israel’s decision to deny entry of a US university student of Palestinian descent for a study-abroad program.
The Palestine Cultural Office, Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, National Lawyers Guild and others called a news conference Thursday afternoon at the federal courthouse in Detroit.
On May 16, 21-year-old Abeer Afana of Michigan was detained at Tel Aviv airport, then sent back to the US.
The US-born Wayne State University student was part of a program designed to examine Middle East tensions. Seven other students were admitted.
A phone and e-mail message were left Wednesday for Avigail Sagy, spokeswoman for the Israeli consulate in Chicago.
