Iraq parliament votes to ‘respond in kind’ to US visa ban
BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Iraqi parliament has voted to retaliate against the US travel ban on its citizens, calling on the Iraqi government to take reciprocal measures against the US.
With a majority of votes, the parliament passed a motion tabled by the foreign affairs committee that set out recommendations to the government.
The recommendations urge the government to “respond in kind with the United States,” establish channels of communications with the US Congress regarding the issue, and call on the US administration to review its decision.
It also called on the United Nations and other international organizations to take a decision regarding the issue.
On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said his government’s response to Washington’s temporary ban on admission to the US for citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, would be soft as he does not want to turn all Americans into enemies because of one order from US President Donald Trump.
Trump has defended his order, denying it targets a single religion. “This is not about religion – this is about terror and keeping our country safe,” he said in a written statement on Sunday.
With a majority of votes, the parliament passed a motion tabled by the foreign affairs committee that set out recommendations to the government.
The recommendations urge the government to “respond in kind with the United States,” establish channels of communications with the US Congress regarding the issue, and call on the US administration to review its decision.
It also called on the United Nations and other international organizations to take a decision regarding the issue.
On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said his government’s response to Washington’s temporary ban on admission to the US for citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, would be soft as he does not want to turn all Americans into enemies because of one order from US President Donald Trump.
Trump has defended his order, denying it targets a single religion. “This is not about religion – this is about terror and keeping our country safe,” he said in a written statement on Sunday.