UAE Minister Says Trump Travel Ban not Anti-Islam
US President Donald Trump's travel ban on citizens of seven Muslim-majority nations is not anti-Islam, the United Arab Emirates foreign minister said on Wednesday.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, whose country like neighbouring Saudi Arabia is a close ally of Washington, said it was "wrong to say" that the decision by the new US administration was "directed against a particular religion".
"The United States has made... a sovereign decision," he said at a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, pointing out that it was "provisional" and did not apply to "the large majority" of the world's Muslims.
In his defence of the ban which has stirred widespread protests across the globe, Sheikh Abdullah also said that some of the countries on the blacklist had "structural challenges" on the security front that they still had to overcome.
Trump's controversial executive order on Friday singled out citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen to prevent "radical Islamic terrorists" from entering the United States.
But the 90-day ban, which could still extend to other states, has exempted Muslim-majority nations associated with major attacks in the West.
Out of the 19 hijackers of planes used in the September 11, 2011 attacks on the Unites States, 15 came from Saudi Arabia, also the birthplace of Al-Qaeda founder and attack mastermind Osama bin Laden.
The other four included the Egyptian plot leader, two Emiratis and a Lebanese.
over 8 years
the heretic seems to overlook one simple fact: This is his ( Trump ) country and he can do what he likes and all you can do is post on naharnet all day long and complain.
over 8 years
It is not Trump country. He does not own it. If he continue on the same path, he will be fighting hundreds of legal challenges for the rest of his term.
over 8 years
In 2006, they were being evacuated by the marines here in Tabarja and were cursing the USA.
over 8 years
yes because he and the atheist mowaten of iran are concerned about moslems globally;)
over 8 years
take how it is shia iranian. The poor muslims that your shia militia made into refugees are most likely to become security risks out of desperation. Perhaps, if you stop doing your ethnic cleansing there would be no more refugees.
over 8 years
hehehe!
over 8 years
leaded????
over 8 years
Southern -remind me who is the Takfiri?
over 8 years
southern, what would an iranian shia heretic who claims to be an atheist know about who is muslims and who is not?
have you congratulated hariri yet as you promised ya takiah liar?
over 8 years
President Trump original intention might have been a muslem ban but opted for watered down law that included the seven states that are either lawless or fanaticaly hastile to the USA. This ban might be a preemtive move for what is to come down on alqaida and isis. He is closing down the pipes of which the terrorists can tricle into the USA from. I think he is preparing for an all out campain against isis and alqaida soon.
over 8 years
Southern is always welcome in my Kingdom and without an entry visa.
over 8 years
i believe poster gigahabil's genuine concern for poor Muslims
and you and your sectarian Iran seem to be the champions of poor moslems.