Yemeni Student is Among Thousands to Win US Visa, Only to Have It Effectively Denied by Travel Ban

Thousands of Yemenis and other nationals from countries covered by Trump’s travel ban are currently stranded in different parts of the world as the State Department refuses to honor the fact that they won a U.S. government immigration lottery. Many of the winners have already sold their homes and cars, left their jobs and even relocated in anticipation of their move to the United States. Their eligibility to receive green cards under the program will end only three days after the travel ban is slated to expire on September 27, meaning their applications will likely not be processed in time, which lawyers say operates as an effective ban. We are joined by Hamed Sufyan Almaqrami, 29-year-old Yemeni Ph.D. student in applied linguistics who was awarded a diversity visa in 2016. Due to Trump’s travel ban, he is now stranded in India. We also speak with his attorney, Yolanda Rondon of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and Stephen Pattison, a U.S. immigration attorney who spent nearly three decades with the State Department.

US State Department – Stifled Snigger As Boris Johnson Announced British Foreign Secretary

US State Department Deputy Spokesman Mark Toner was dispassionate in his reaction to news that former Mayor of London Boris Johnson had been appointed British foreign secretary by the newly appointed British Prime Minister Theresa May, speaking from Washington DC, Wednesday.

US State Dept Dismisses Russian Evidence of Turkey Aiding ISIS

The Pentagon rushed to defend Turkey, calling it an important partner in the fight against terrorists, despite earlier claims from Washington that Ankara was supporting extremist groups in the region. RT’s Gayane Chichakyan was at a US State Department briefing dealing with these allegations.

US State Department Refuses to Openly Confirm Russian Jet Was Hit in Syrian Airspace

The downing of Russia’s bomber by Turkish fighter jets in Syrian airspace last week has been dominating world news. RT’s Gayane Chichkyan has been following the US reaction.

US State Dept. Aware of Saudi Funding of Terrorist Groups – WikiLeaks

A new set of cables from WikiLeaks, dating back to 2009 and signed by Hillary Clinton, claims the US was aware of Saudi Arabia’s funding of militant and terrorist groups. Lindsay France takes a look at the claims.

Marie Harf, State Department, on Islamic State: 'Can't Win by Killing Them'

Marie Harf, a spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department, said America can't win against the Islamic State "by killing them" and ought instead to focus on addressing what she claimed was the root problem - their poor economy - and help them get jobs. "We're killing a lot of them, and we're going to keep killing…

'US Citizen Has No Right to Free Speech?' State Dept Spokesperson Grilled Over Snowden

Tensions are high as NSA leaker Edward Snowden officially submitted application for temporary asylum in Russia on Tuesday. After Russian and international human rights advocates and lawyers met with Snowden at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport on Friday, the US said it is disappointed in Russia for considering the whistleblowers asylum. During a daily press briefing State Department spokeswoman, Jen Psaki was given a thorough grilling on the Snowden affair by journalists, including AP's Matthew Lee and CNN's Elise Labott and was left lost for words at almost every turn.

Report: Discrimination against Jews and Muslims Rising Everywhere
THE JEWISH PRESS: Discrimination against Jews and Muslims is on the rise around the world, according to the annual U.S. State Dept. report for 2012.

The report points to growing antisemitism, especially in Venezuela, Egypt and Iran.

The BBC noted that the International Religious Freedom Report noted that in Egypt, antisemitic sentiment in the media sometimes included Holocaust denial or, perhaps worse, glorification of the mass murder of Jews.

The report says that traditional forms of antisemitism, such as conspiracy theories, blood libel myths and cartoons demonizing Jews continue to flourish. » | Jewish Press News Briefs | Tuesday, may 21, 2013

Hillary Clinton Steps Down as US Secretary of State
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Hillary Clinton bid an emotional farewell to the State Department on Friday as she stepped down from her post as America's top diplomat to become a private citizen for the first time in decades.


The US Secretary of State addressed a cheering crowd of staff in Washington, telling them that while the world remains "very complex and even dangerous" she was "more optimistic today than I was when I stood here four years ago".

"I'm proud of the work we have done to elevate diplomacy and development, to serve the nation we all love, to understand the challenges, the threats and the opportunities that the United States faces," she said. » | Raf Sanchez, Washington | Friday, February 01, 2013

Newt Gingrich: State Dept. "Favors Radical Islam over Christianity and Judaism"

Liberté religieuse: un rapport américain égratigne la Suisse
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: ETATS-UNIS | La Suisse, avec d'autres pays d'Europe, est citée dans le rapport publié mercredi par le département américain d’Etat sur les atteintes contre les libertés religieuses dans le monde.

Mercredi a paru le rapport publié par le département américain d’Etat sur les atteintes contre les libertés religieuses dans le monde. Comme chaque année pratiquement, cette étude officielle classe la Corée du Nord, l’Iran, la Birmanie, la Chine, le Soudan ou encore l’Arabie saoudite parmi les pays où les libertés religieuses sont les moins respectées.

Mais «plusieurs pays européens ont imposé de sévères restrictions à l’expression religieuse», a relevé mercredi la secrétaire d’Etat, Hillary Clinton.

«Les blessures persistantes provoquées par l’intolérance et la méfiance», a-t-elle ajouté, peuvent être aussi préjudiciables pour la liberté religieuse que les actes de gouvernements autoritaires ou de groupes extrémistes. >>> ATS | Jeudi 18 Novembre 2010

Clinton Critical of Religious Freedom in Europe
YAHOO! NEWS: WASHINGTON – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticized Wednesday the state of religious freedom in Europe, as Washington highlighted policies and attitudes toward Muslim veils and Islam as a whole.

"Several European countries have placed harsh restrictions on religious expression," Clinton said, without elaborating as she unveiled the State Department's report on international religious freedom for the last year.

Her assistant secretary for human rights, Michael Posner, cited France's ban on wearing the niqab and other face coverings in public places and a Swiss motion passed last year that bans building new minarets.

Both measures have been criticized as intolerant moves stigmatizing Europe's growing Muslim population.

Posner acknowledged "growing sensitivity and tension in Europe" over Islam.

"What we are urging our European friends to do is to take every measure to try to alleviate that tension," he added.

The different attitudes toward Muslims in Europe and the United States are the source of frequent tensions and misunderstandings between both sides of the Atlantic.

"We have gone to court in the United States to enforce the right of Muslim women and girls to wear a burqa, and on the streets, in schools, et cetera," said Posner.

"That's our position. It's a position we articulate when we talk to our European friends." >>> AFP | Wednesday, November 17, 2010

For God’s sake, Hillary, STOP POLICING the world! You ruin America if you want to; we’ll try and save Europe if we can. By the way, why do you think America is hated by so many around the world? It is precisely because you interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. Learn your lesson; and soon! I believe that you've got enough on your plate sorting out the mess over there. Concentrate on sorting that out first! – © Mark

U.S. Footing Bill for Imam's Trip? : Imam from 'Ground Zero mosque' going to Mideast on government's tab


Related >>>

Feds Funding Ground Zero Imam's Mideast Trip
NEW YORK POST: The imam behind a plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero is set to depart on a multi-country jaunt to the Middle East funded by the State Department -- raising concerns that taxpayers may be helping him with the controversial project's $100 million fund-raising goal.

Feisal Abdul Rauf is taking the publicly funded trip to foster "greater understanding" about Islam and Muslim communities in the United States, the State Department confirmed yesterday.

"He is a distinguished Muslim cleric," said State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, when asked about the journey, reportedly to include stops in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Qatar.

"I think we are in the process of arranging for him to travel as part of this program, and it is to foster a greater understanding about the region around the world among Muslim-majority communities," he added.

Crowley said no fund-raising for the mosque and cultural center during the trip would be permitted. "That would not be something he could do as part of our program," he said.

Abdul Rauf said funds for the center will come from Muslims and members of his congregation.

But a London-based Arabic-language newspaper that interviewed Abdul Rauf reported that he says he also will collect money from Muslim and Arab nations around the world -- raising the possibility his goodwill mission could help him build contacts in oil-rich states. >>> Geoff Earle in DC and Brendan Scott in Albany | Tuesday, August 10, 2010

HT: Atlas Shrugs >>>

Iran 'Leading Terrorism Sponsor'
BBC: Iran remains the "most active state sponsor of terrorism" in the world, a report by the US state department says.

It says Iran's role in the planning and financing of terror-related activities in the Middle East and Afghanistan threatens efforts to promote peace.

Al-Qaeda, however, remains the biggest danger to the US and the West, the annual report states.

It says that while the number of terror attack around the world is dropping, they are on the increase in Pakistan.

'Existential threat'

The new US administration may be trying to engage Tehran, but, just like last year, Iran is still described as the most active state sponsor of terrorism. >>> By Kim Ghattas | Thursday, April 30, 2009

Religious Freedom in Egypt ‘Declining’, Says Report
DAILY NEWS (EGYPT): CAIRO: Freedom of religious belief in Egypt “declined” between July 2007 and June 2008, according to the US State Department’s annual assessment of religious freedom throughout the world, the International Religious Freedom Report.

The report is compiled on the basis of information obtained “from a variety of sources, including government and religious officials, NGOs, journalists, human rights monitors, religious groups and academics” according to its preface.

The report describes legislation and governmental practices which discriminate against Egypt’s religious minorities and adherents of Islamic teachings viewed as heretical by the state.

Acts of discrimination against Egypt’s largest religious minority, Christian Copts, take up the bulk of the report.

“The government again failed to redress laws and governmental practices discriminative against Christians, effectively allowing their discriminatory effects and their modelling effect on society to become further entrenched,” the report states.

Despite making up between 8–12 percent of the population, Christians continue to be underrepresented in public office the report says, in violation of the Egyptian Constitution’s prohibition of discrimination on the basis of religion.

“There are no Christians serving as presidents or deans of public universities, and they are rarely nominated by the Government to run in elections as National Democratic Party (NDP) candidates. Christians, who represent between 8 and 12 percent of the population, hold less than 2 percent of the seats in the People’s Assembly and Shoura Council,” the report says.

Christians continued to experience problems in obtaining the official permission necessary to construct and repair churches, with security forces blocking the use of permits that had already been issued or denying permits altogether. These delays can last for years. Religious Freedom in Egypt ‘Declining’, Says Report >>> By Sarah Carr | September 21, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (UK) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (UK) >>>