Twenty students of Mollier, the study association of the master track Building Physics and Services, and assistant professor Qingliang Yu were touring China for their annual study trip from May 14-26. When the party checked in for their flight home yesterday, graduate student Ezechiels from Surinam was stopped.

According to Bart Kok, chairman of the committee who had organized the trip, Ezechiels wasn’t allowed through customs because Chinese authorities wouldn’t accept his documents, which should prove the graduate student is residing in the Netherlands legally. The group had no choice but to board the plane without Ezechiels.

Kok said the group managed to contact the girlfriend of fellow student Xin before take-off to arrange a hostel for Ezechiels for the next few days.

Ezechiels will not be refunded the original return trip with Lufthansa, says Kok. “They claim they’re not responsible for invalid travel documents. We’re still trying to get his money back, but Lufthansa still appeals to the standard protocols that apply.”

Mollier has started an online fundraiser for the graduate student’s return ticket. Kok: “We’ll have to help him out from the Netherlands, as Internet connections in Chinese hostels are generally slow."