The British Veterinary Association has spoken out against Donald Trump’s ‘Muslim ban’ after a Glasgow-based vet who holds an Iranian passport was prevented from flying to the UK via the U.S.

Dr Hamaseh Tayari was due to fly back to the UK from Costa Rica via New York on Saturday, but she has been told she cannot do so because of a new order by President Trump banning all refugees and all passport holders from seven predominantly muslim countries (including those with U.S. green cards) from entering the country.

Over the weekend, Attorneys General from 16 U.S. states condemned the president’s order as unconstitutional, and a federal judge in New York temporarily blocked the order. Even so, U.S. border police are reportedly upholding the President’s ban, which was signed shortly after a meeting with UK Prime Minister Theresa May. The order has attracted huge amounts of condemnation, and taxi drivers staged a strike, refusing to pick up from JFK airport in New York in protest against the “Inhumane” measure.

Speaking on Sunday, BVA President Gudrun Ravetz commented, “BVA shares the concerns of many of our colleagues and members about the situation Dr Tayari found herself in. My theme for my year as BVA President is the veterinary family and it has never been more important to pull together as one profession.

“The veterinary profession in the UK depends on colleagues from outside of the UK, with over half of the vets registering to practise in 2014/15 being non-UK graduates. The scientific community is international and it is common for scientists to work with colleagues from across the world… We stand with all our colleagues, wherever they are from in the world or wherever they are.”