The Muslim mayor of Prospect Park, New Jersey, has been barred by the Secret Service from attending an Eid party at the White House.
According to the Associated Press news agency, Mayor Mohammad Khairullah received a phone call from the White House shortly before arriving at the event, informing him that the Secret Service had not given him security clearance for entry, so he could not attend.
On Monday, an Eid-ul-Fitr ceremony was held at the White House, which was also addressed by President Joe Biden.
Anthony Gugliami, a spokesman for the intelligence agency, confirmed that the Muslim mayor, Muhammad Khairullah, was not allowed to enter the White House but declined to say why.
Mohammad Khairullah was elected mayor of Prospect Park, New Jersey, for the fifth time in January.
Spokesman Anthony Gugliami said in a statement that he could not provide more information about the security measures taken for the purpose of the security operation at the White House.
Saladin Muscat, director of the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), called the move unacceptable and defamatory.
Mayor Muhammad Khairullah has also participated in charity work in Syria and Bangladesh.
Earlier, Khairullah was detained at New York International Airport for three hours and questioned about terrorists, a spokesperson for CAIR New Jersey said.
The White House has declined to comment on the decision to bar Mayor Mohammad Khairullah from attending.