Posted on 02/03/2017 3:19:25 AM PST by UMCRevMom@aol.com
Kuwait first placed a blanket ban on new visas for Syrians in 2011, but those already in the country were allowed to remain. (AFP/File)
Citizens from five Muslim-majority countries will no longer be able to obtain Kuwaiti visas, after reports the Gulf state issued tight entry restrictions that mirrored US President Donald Trump's Muslim ban.
Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians, Pakistanis and Afghans will not be able to obtain visit, tourism or trade Kuwaiti visas with the news coming one day after the US slapped its own restrictions on seven Muslim-majority countries.
Passport holders from the countries will no lot be allowed to enter the Gulf state while the blanket ban is in place and have been told not to apply to visas.
Kuwaiti sources told local media that the restrictions were in place due to the "instability" in the five countries and that the ban would be lifted once the security situation improves.
Pakistan and Afghanistan have all witnessed violence from extremist groups, while Syria and Iraq are embroiled in internal conflicts.
Although mainly peaceful, tensions between Iran and the Gulf have ratched up over the past year with the GCC powers accusing Tehran of attempting to destabalise the region.
Kuwait is concerned about the threat of extremist groups such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group with both militant organisations have a presence in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Gulf state has witnessed a number of militant attacks over the past two years, including the bombing of a Shia mosque in 2015 which left 27 Kuwaits dead.
Kuwait responded by arresting dozens of suspected Daesh sympathizers and rolling out mandatary DNA testing programme and database for the Gulf state's 4 million population.
Kuwait reportedly issued a ban on all visas for Syrians in 2011, but allowed those inside the country to remain.
It made Kuwait the only country in the world to officially bar entry to Syrians, until the US named Syria in seven countries banned from entering.
Kuwait has issued a number of laws targeting foreigners in recent years, and made it one of the most unfriendly Gulf states towards expatriates.
In 2015, Kuwait was named as the worst place in the world for expatriates in a 64 country InterNations survey.
Meanwhile, Trump's Muslim ban has been met with widespread outrage since it was signed on Friday, although Gulf states have remained quiet on the issue.
Dubai security chief Dhahi Khalfan outraged Syrians and other nationalities included in the ban when he publically backed Trump's decision.
And then there's Merkel who said she had made a biiiiiiig mistake by letting the Trojan Horse in.
Sounds like Kuwait is building a wall on THEIR border as well. Solidifying their strategic alliance with us. Well played. Well played
The global media is FILLED with “news” venues who do nothing other than pass on a “news” report one of their herd published before them, and do zero due diligence themselves.
Notice that not a single Kuwaiti source, person or otherwise is cited as the “source” of this “news”. Yet, web site after web site keeps picking it up and passing it around, without question.
It’s very first source was Sputnik news. Then THAT report was picked up, and cited as the source, by “news” venues from India (I’m sure the Indians loved reading that Kuwait was banning entrance to Pakistanis - which is likely what gave the story multiple legs in India). Then the initial other sources cited the earliest Indian venue as their source. No one checked. No one asked any Kuwaiti officials. No one checked any official Kuwaiti news feeds. The story fit what some readers wanted to hear. So it keeps getting repeated.
Pakistan’s Ambassador HAS publicly spoken and denies Kuwait has informed them of any such ban.
As of now, this story remains a totally UNCONFIRMED report.
Kuwait hates Muslims.
Iran sanctions are going to hit home worldwide soon. To my former Dept of State colleagues, keep your heads low and stay safe - Iran has many many times since 1979 said you are the first target.
France and Germany need to take notice.
The leftists need to march on the Kuwaiti Embassy and shout their protest at this latest outrage against Muslims!
[crickets]
Wonder how our rats in Congress and in the media will respond to this news, besides ignoring it?
Citizens from five Muslim-majority countries will no longer be able to obtain Kuwaiti visas, after reports the Gulf state issued tight entry restrictions that mirrored US President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban.
Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians, Pakistanis and Afghans will not be able to obtain visit, tourism or trade Kuwaiti visas with the news coming one day after the US slapped its own restrictions on seven Muslim-majority countries.
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