Latest news with #AmericanMuslims
Gulf Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Trump slaps new travel ban on 12 countries
US President Donald Trump signed a new travel ban on Wednesday targeting 12 countries including Afghanistan, Iran and Yemen, reviving one of the most controversial measures from his first term. Trump said the measure was spurred by a makeshift flamethrower attack on a Jewish protest in Colorado that US authorities blamed on an man they said was in the country illegally. The move bans all travel to the United States by nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Trump also imposed a partial ban on travelers from seven countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Some temporary work visas from these countries will be allowed. Travellers queue at Miami International Airport during Memorial Day weekend on May 24, 2025 in Miami, Florida. File/AFP The bans go into effect on Monday, the White House said. "The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted," Trump said in a video message from the Oval Office posted on X. "We don't want them." World Cup, Olympics excluded The ban will however not apply to athletes competing in the 2026 World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, as well as the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Trump's order said. Trump separately on Wednesday announced a ban on visas for foreign students who are set to begin attending Harvard University, ramping up his crackdown on what he regards as a bastion of liberalism. Protesters march in New York's Times Square in solidarity with American Muslims and against the travel ban ordered by US President Donald Trump. File/AFP The US leader compared the new measures to the "powerful" ban he imposed on a number of mainly Muslim countries in his first term, which caused travel disruption across the world. Trump said that 2017 ban had stopped the United States from suffering terror attacks that happened in Europe. "We will not let what happened in Europe happen in America," Trump said. "We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen." Venezuela hit back by warning that the United States itself was a dangerous destination. "Being in the United States is a great risk for anyone, not just for Venezuelans," Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said after the announcement, warning citizens against travel there. Trump's new travel ban could however face legal challenges, as have many of the drastic measures he has taken in his whirlwind return to office. 'Terrorists' The White House unveiled the new ban with virtually no warning, minutes after Trump had addressed some 3,000 political appointees from his balcony at a celebratory "summer soiree." Trump also made the announcement with no reporters present, an unusual move after sharing many of his most headline-grabbing policy announcements at signing ceremonies in the Oval Office. Passengers arrive to Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey. File/AFP But rumors of a new Trump travel ban had circulated following the attack in Colorado, with his administration vowing to pursue "terrorists" living in the US on visas. Suspect Mohammed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian national according to court documents, is alleged to have thrown fire bombs and sprayed burning gasoline at a group of people who had gathered on Sunday in support of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. US Homeland Security officials said Soliman was in the country illegally, having overstayed a tourist visa, but that he had applied for asylum in September 2022. "President Trump is fulfilling his promise to protect Americans from dangerous foreign actors that want to come to our country and cause us harm," White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson said on X. Trump's proclamation gave specific reasons for each country in his proclamation, which says it is aimed at protecting the United States from "foreign terrorists and other national security" threats. Notably, Egypt was not on the list of countries facing travel restrictions. For Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and war-torn Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen, it said they lacked "competent" central authorities for processing passports and vetting. Iran, with which the United States is in negotiations on a possible nuclear deal, was included as it is a "state sponsor of terrorism," the order said. "The impact of the ban will once again be felt by Americans who were denied the ability to see their loved ones at weddings, funerals, or the birth of a child," said National Iranian American Council president Jamal Abdi. For most of the other countries, Trump's order cited an above average likelihood that people would overstay their visas. Agence France-Presse
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ex-GOP Lawmaker Regrets Being ‘Divisive Political Asshole,' Is Joining Democratic Party
Former Republican Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh announced Tuesday he is formally joining the Democratic Party because 'the stakes are simply too high to NOT become a Democrat.' 'Let's start with the obvious—a tyrant sits in the White House,' Walsh wrote in his Substack, 'The Social Contract.' 'The very thing our Founders feared most is here,' he said. 'Throw in the fact that one of our two major political parties is a real and direct threat to democracy and the rule of law.' Walsh, a former supporter of President Donald Trump who later ran against him, amassed a large following through his controversial statements online and on his radio show. In 2012, he declared American Muslims an imminent threat to national security and lashed out at Rev. Jesse Jackson, accusing him of trying to 'keep African Americans down on some plantation.' The former Republican has spent much of his recent past trying to distance himself from the bigotry he promoted in earlier years. Acknowledging his past public remarks on Tuesday, he said, 'that's no longer who I am.' 'I went to Congress on a mission to get our debt under control and to shake up the political establishment,' Walsh wrote. 'I was passionate about my cause—so passionate that I said and did things I regret, so passionate that I became, way more than I'm proud of, a divisive political asshole.' Walsh added that he has since 'gained a greater understanding of and appreciation for LGBTQ issues, structural racism, the need for empathetic immigration reform, the dangers of climate change, and the role the government must play to help care for the neediest and most vulnerable among us.' 'I'm still a conservative, but I'm not a conservative jerk,' he wrote. 'For the past seven years, I've been on a mission to help heal the divide in this country—the divide I helped to create.' Walsh's announcement comes as the Democratic Party's approval rating sinks to an all-time low. An NBC poll published earlier this year found that just 27% of registered voters say they have positive views of the party. A CNN/SRS poll found that Democrats' messaging on the economy performed worse than Republicans' over the past four months, with the GOP holding an eight-point lead on the issue. Walsh was already a vocal critic of the president. He said he made the switch to the Democratic Party because 'These are unprecedented, dangerous times in America.' 'Of course we've always fought about and debated policy—how best to pay for healthcare, whether taxes should be raised or cut, and how best to deal with immigration,' Walsh wrote. 'But we've never before fought about actually remaining a democracy or abiding by the Constitution and the rule of law.' He highlighted 'decency, tolerance, understanding, empathy' as traits he believes are 'vital' to politics, claiming the Democratic Party is the only party 'these days' that 'values and practices these traits.' 'Donald Trump is the worst of us, and, sadly, the rest of the Republican Party emulates his cruelty, dishonesty, and authoritarianism,' Walsh wrote. 'We're better than what we've seen every day these past four months. America is better than this. As a former Republican, I know that cruelty sells.' The Extremely Dumb Excuse That Republicans Are Using To Justify Trump's Corruption Republicans Big Mad At Elon Musk For Telling The Truth About 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Elon Musk Unloads On Republicans' 'Disgusting Abomination' Big Beautiful Bill
Rudaw Net
09-03-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iftar meal brings together Muslims, non-Muslims in Washington DC
Also in World US condemns 'radical Islamist terrorists' for 'massacres' against Syria's minorities Kurdish beauty influencers build success in Germany Large wage gap for immigrants in Germany, says researcher US congressman wants to see independent Kurdistan in Syria A+ A- WASHINGTON DC - Muslims and non-Muslims came together for a special Iftar meal earlier this week, celebrating unity and understanding. This is the second consecutive year this event has brought people of different faiths together to break their fast during Ramadan. "Tonight, we are joined by people from many faith communities, all of whom work in the area of preserving [and] defending religious freedom for all vulnerable people in the world," Ibrahim Anli, Executive Director of Rumi Forum, told Rudaw. The US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback believes that peace cannot be achieved anywhere without religious tolerance. He said peace is not possible unless there is mutual respect and understanding. "But with that you can really work with, I think, people of faith to build peace, to build societies that are sustainable, and they relate to each other. American Muslims, who number more than four million, own many mosques and religious centers. During the holy month of Ramadan, American Muslims continue to champion the values of tolerance, understanding, and peace.
Express Tribune
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
CAIR condemns Musk for calling US Muslim groups 'terrorist organisations'
Listen to article The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has strongly condemned Elon Musk's recent comments that labeled U.S. Muslim groups receiving USAID funds as 'terrorist organisations.' The billionaire entrepreneur's remarks, made in a retweet, have sparked outrage for perpetuating Islamophobia and endangering the safety of Muslim Americans. Musk's retweet featured a post that accused a number of US Muslim aid organisations of being tied to terrorism. In his quote, Musk added, 'As many people have said, why pay terrorist organisations and certain countries to hate us when they're perfectly willing to do it for free?' The post mentioned over a dozen American Muslim groups, including the Arab American Institute, Islamic Relief Agency, Muslim Aid, and the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. In response, CAIR, a civil rights group representing American Muslims, stated that the groups Musk criticized are 'duly registered nonprofit organisations' and have the same right as any other charity to apply for federal funding. The group also pointed out that several of these organisations have previously partnered with the Trump administration. 'Anyone who sees the word 'Islam' in the name of an American charity and immediately labels it a 'terrorist organisation' is acting out of hate and ignorance,' said CAIR. 'These organisations contribute significantly to society, especially in humanitarian work, and should not be disparaged based on baseless accusations.' Photo: @elonmusk on X "Reckless and Dangerous" Remarks Nihad Awad, National Executive Director of CAIR, responded directly to Musk, calling his comments 'reckless and dangerous.' He explained that such rhetoric not only fuels Islamophobia but also puts innocent lives at risk. 'This kind of rhetoric undermines the values of justice and equality. Do better,' Awad said in his response. Photo: @NihadAwad on X In addition, CAIR urged Musk to shift his focus from defaming American Muslim organisations and address the use of US taxpayer money for military operations by Israel, particularly in Gaza, where thousands of innocent lives have been lost. Musk, who also leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is currently overseeing a significant shakeup in US aid programs. On Sunday, the Trump administration announced the firing of 2,000 USAID workers and the suspension of thousands more globally. The exchange has further polarized debates surrounding US foreign aid and the treatment of Muslim organisations. While Musk's remarks have drawn condemnation from civil rights groups, some of his supporters argue that these organisations should face greater scrutiny for their ties to foreign entities. However, CAIR and other advocacy groups continue to stress that the accusations against these US-based charities are unfounded and harmful. As tensions rise, the discourse around these issues is expected to intensify, with both sides standing firm in their opposing views. For now, CAIR's call for accountability and responsible rhetoric remains central in the ongoing conversation.
Memri
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Memri
Community Leaders Discuss and Activists Discuss Gaza Ceasefire, Linda Sarsour: I Was Overwhelmed with Joy; Hatem Bazian of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) Slammed AIPAC, Promoted BDS; Nihad Awad
American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) held a webinar on January 28, 2025, where community leaders discussed the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. AMP chair Dr. Hatem Bazian criticized AIPAC, stating that the organization should not have influence over U.S. policy in the Middle East. He urged American Muslims to press politicians not to accept money from AIPAC and emphasized the importance of recommitting to a "broad strategy" on Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel. Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies remarked on the resilience of Hamas and Palestinian steadfastness, calling it extraordinary. Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), called for an expansion of BDS, describing the situation in Gaza as 'unprecedented genocide' and criticizing Germany's support for Israel, because the Holocaust took place mainly in Germany. Marium Uddin of the Muslim Legal Fund of America stated that the only thing keeping the ceasefire intact were the Israeli hostages held in Gaza. Activist Linda Sarsour of MPower Change expressed joy over the return of Palestinians to northern Gaza, while Basim Elkarra of CAIR Action noted that this marked the first time since 1948 that Palestinians had returned in such large numbers. The webinar was hosted by Mohamad Habehh of AMP.
