Iran strongly condemns US travel ban, citing its typically tolerant people

29-06-2017

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Tehran highlighted that Muslims, including its own citizens, typically conform and are tolerant despite being treated with humiliation by the US government, in light of President Donald Trump’s imposition of stricter entry criteria for nationals of six mainly Muslim countries.

“While nearly all Muslims living in the US as well as those travelling to the country, including Iranians, are, according to their history, culture and civilization, typically conformist and tolerant people who keep extremism and violence at bay, the US officials have always treated them with pessimism and humiliation,” stated Bahram Qassemi, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson.

It “strongly condemned the discriminatory decision” by the US Supreme Court on Monday that paved the way for Trump’s tighter visa requirements of nationals from Iran, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen.

Tasnim News reported Qassemi said on Wednesday that the court decision is against US human rights claims and shows Washington’s “racist” and “unfair” approach towards Muslims.

After the London Bridge attacks on June 3 that killed eight people and injured 48 was claimed by ISIS-through its affiliated media with its perpetrators being a Pakistani and two Moroccans, Trump tweeted “We need to be smart vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us our rights. We need the travel ban as an extra level of safety!”

Tasnim quoted Qassemi as saying: “It is regrettable that the US administration is brazenly closing its eyes to the true perpetrators of the terrorist acts in the US and (instead) gives the world wrong address in pursuit of its business goals.”

The Islamic Republic of Iran will give an appropriate response and adopt the required measures after closely studying the latest decision made by the US Supreme Court, added the FM statement.

The foreign ministry issued travel advice for Iranians planning to go to the United States, after receiving inquiries from its citizens.

They advise Iranians to be sure beforehand by seeking seeking reliable and trusted advice that their visit won't be affected by Trump's executive order

Trump’s executive order imposed a 90-day visa ban on visitors from the six countries is in addition to a 120-day ban on refugees.

Notably, the US state department stated that new visa applicants from those countries must prove a relationship with a parent, spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or sibling already in the United States to be eligible.

Extended family members such as grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, fiancees are not considered to be close relationships, The Associated Press reported, citing a cable sent to all US embassies and consulates late on Wednesday.

The State Department stated a legitimate relationship must be “formal, documented and formed in the ordinary course rather than for the purpose of evading” the ban. Journalists, students, workers or lecturers who have valid invitations or employment contracts in the United States would be exempt from the ban.

The new rules take effect on Friday (Greenwich Mean Time).

The US Supreme Court on Monday partially lifted lower court injunctions against Trump’s executive order that had temporarily banned visas for citizens of the six countries.

Trump’s first executive order on travel in January applied to travelers from Iraq and well as the six countries, and took effect immediately, causing chaos and panic at airports.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced on March 6 that Iraq was removed from the list after they “identified multiple security measures that the State Department and the Government of Iraq will be implementing to achieve our shared objective of preventing those with criminal or terrorist intent from reaching the United States.”

Additionally, Reuters reported a senior White House official saying that Iraq will introduce heightened visa screening and data sharing.

In exchange for Iraq to be removed from the initial travel ban via executive order, Iraq had agreed to accept any deportees from the US, The Associated Press reported.