Kuwait rejects allegations of visa ban on five Muslim-majority countries

In an online statement on Friday, the Embassy of Kuwait rejected rumors they prohibited the entry of nationals from five Muslim-majority countries including Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – In an online statement on Friday, the Embassy of Kuwait rejected rumors they prohibited the entry of nationals from five Muslim-majority countries including Iraq, Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Recently, some news outlets reported Kuwait had banned visas for citizens from five countries, including Iraqi nationals.

The statement mentioned no decision had been enforced by Kuwait and labeled the allegations as baseless rumors and media propaganda.

Moreover, the Foreign Ministry of Kuwait also released a statement, reassuring the passport holders of the five countries they “enjoy full rights.”

The statement quoted Sami al-Hamad, the Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs, noting Kuwait was aware granting visas was a sovereign matter for any country.

Hamad added Kuwait did not link terrorism and violence with any religion or nationality.

On Wednesday, the Pakistan envoy also rejected rumors of the visa ban and stated Kuwait had made no such decisions.

Additionally, the Pakistani ambassador to Kuwait Ghulam Dastagir said the rumors had circulated on social media, claiming similar news had popped up in 2011.

Allegations spread after the new United States administration issued an executive order banning immigration from nationals of seven countries: Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

The immigration ban ordered by US President Donald Trump received criticism worldwide and was labeled discriminatory against Muslims.

On Friday, James Robart, the US District Judge who was appointed by the former US President George W. Bush in 2004, issued a temporary block order against Trump’s ban on the seven mentioned countries.

 

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany