Iraq hits back with travel ban on Americans

Iraq hits back with travel ban on Americans
Baghdad has made a tit-for-tat response to discriminatory US immigration measures after the Iraqi parliament approved the a ban on Americans entering the country.
2 min read
30 January, 2017
Iraq is one seven countries affected by Trump's executive order on immigration [Getty]

Iraq has issued retaliatary bar on US citizens from travelling to the country, after President Donald Trump issued a Muslim ban on Friday, which included Iraqis.

According to Iraqi politicians Kamil al-Ghariri and Mohammed Saadoun, the bill was passed with a majority of votes in favour, making the decision binding on the government.

Details of the bill's wording or its specific implications were not immediately clear, particularly regarding US aid workers, business people and soldiers in Iraq.

The approval of the tit-for-tat measure follows Trump's signing of an executive order banning travel to the US by citizens of Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. The 90-day ban is coupled with a 120-day suspension of the US refugee programme.

The discriminatory measures have sparked an international backlash, with protest movements forming around the world in opposition to Trump and his policies.

Iran, a country that Trump has vowed to deal firmly with, has also promised to take action against the new measures.

"We will definitely take stance against this illegal, inhumane and anti-human-rights activity in international bodies," said Iran's senior vice president Ishaq Jahangiri.

"And once again (we) will review and explore American human rights in international bodies in order to let the world to know what a system they are facing."