Oscars 2017: Syrian cinematographer barred from entering U.S.

London [UK], Feb. 25 (ANI): In a shocking incident, the cinematographer behind Netflix's "The White Helmets," Khaled Khateeb, nominated for the documentary short award, has been denied entry to the U.S. for Sunday's Academy Awards by the immigration authorities.

According to a reports appearing in The Guardian, Syria was one of the seven countries targeted by the President Donald Trump when temporarily blocking Muslims from entering the US.

Khateeb's plans were upended at the last minute after the U.S. officials reported finding "derogatory information" against the 21 year-old.

"The White Helmets," is a 40-minute documentary short film about 'The Syrian Civil Defense', better known as the White Helmets, which has been credited with saving more than 60,000 people from the bombed buildings in war-torn Syria, and is being adapted into a feature film by actor George Clooney.

Khateeb had planned on attending the ceremony with his "White Helmets" director Orlando von Einsiedel and producer Joanna Natasegara. (ANI)