Hasan Minhaj was barred from entering Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally held at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on Sunday.
According to the event producers, lack of credentials and lack of space for broadcast crews in the venue is the reason for not allowing Minaj to enter the rally.
Videos posted on the Instagram account of Adam Matthew Weiss, president and CEO of AMWPR, which handled the event, showed Minhaj being turned away due to no press credentials available for him and his crew, and unavailability of space for him to bring his camera crew into the venue.
Subsequent videos shared on Weiss’s Instagram story showed a completely different situation as other camera crews could be seen in the press area where plenty of space was available to adjust more people as well.
An Islamophobic attack on press in 3 acts: Muslim journalist and @patriotact host @hasanminhaj was denied access at Tump/Modi event. Event producers cite lack of credentials (despite credentials set for him), cite lack of space for broadcast (press pool & camera risers 1/2 empty) pic.twitter.com/4mvjwLrFGy
— The Sparrow Project (@sparrowmedia) September 22, 2019
As India celebrates its independence, let’s think about the people who don’t seem to have any right now. #Kashmir pic.twitter.com/cGGoUcMbPw
— Hasan Minhaj (@hasanminhaj) August 15, 2019
It’s being speculated that Minhaj was refused entry due to his past criticism of the Indian Prime Minister, US President Donald Trump and having a pro-Kashmir stance on India’s Independence Day on August 15.
