Canberra: Australian author and TV personality Yassmin Abdel-Magied has said on social media that she is being deported from the United States.
On Twitter, Abdel-Magied was advertising her appearance at a New York festival panel titled ‘The M Word: No country for young Muslim Women’, but offered the caveat: “If they will let me in. I’m currently at the border and they’ve said I’m being deported. This should be fun. What are my rights?”
She then tweeted: “They’ve taken my phone, cancelled my visa and are deporting me. Will follow up on messages once I understand what’s going on.”
Sudanese-born Abdel-Magied is a mechanical engineer by profession, and rose to prominence as the founder of the Youth Without Borders organisation. She was named the 2007 Young Australian Muslim of the Year.
She has been an prominent advocate for Muslim women, but attracted controversy in Australia over an Anzac Day tweet juxtaposing attitudes towards the Anzac legend with Australian and international policies towards refugees.
She is currently based in London.
