Following the travel ban imposed by US President Donald Trump on Iraq and other 6 Muslim major countries, Iraqi officials agreed to do the same. The Iraqi parliament voted on imposing a travel ban on US citizens to reciprocate the controversial decision of Trump.
Yahoo News reported that Baghdad called on the United States to reconsider the travel ban imposed on Iraqi citizens. Seven Muslim major countries were included in the 90-day travel ban wherein the citizens of Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia aren't allowed to enter the United States.
Trump signed the executive order on Friday. Aside from the travel ban, the US refugee program would also be suspended for 120 days. A lot of world leaders and protesters are now having mixed reactions to the said decision.
Iraqi politicians voted to reciprocate the ban imposed by Trump and majority of the voters agreed to ban the US from entering Iraq. A lot of US citizens belonging to the American military, oil companies, non-government aid workers and businessmen will be affected by the ban. According to the Daily Mail, there were no clarifications yet if the ban includes all US citizens or just certain groups or organizations.
Iran also responded with the travel ban imposed on its citizens. Senior vice president Ishaq Jahangiri termed the order as an illegal and inhumane act. In a report by CNN, the Foreign Affairs Ministry even stated that it would only make things worse and that it's an insult and a gift to extremists.
The same reciprocal measures would also be applied by Iran to US citizens if the travel ban is not lifted on Iranian citizens. It will be a way to protect the rights of the Iranian citizens from the insulting travel restrictions.
Officials and citizens are now hoping that the restrictions would not affect bilateral relations between Iraq and the US. A lot of Iraqis, who have served in the US military, are now subject to extensive background checks.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
