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Australian Muslim activist refused entry into U.S.

35 Comments
By Theo Wargo

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35 Comments
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She seems to be a garden-variety, bit of a rent-a-mouth, mischief-maker and an apologist for sharia. Ten a penny. I think Linda Sarsour does something similar in the US. The UK has plenty of these types. These people give decent Muslims a bad name.

Still, surely she wasn’t refused entry for her views?

She’s allowed her opinion.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

The last paragraph suggests the official reason. She was on a tourist visa.

How did she manage to tweet three hours into her flight home, though? Do some airlines allow that now?

7 ( +9 / -2 )

She's entitled to her views, but she has no right to enter any given foreign country. That's a privilege, not a right.

Yes, but the US is a country which rightly prides itself on freedom of expression. If she was denied entry due to her views, this seems to fly in the face of that. I’d just add I’ll happily accept corrections on this from people who know more on US laws regarding allowing in people with particular ideological views.

As a general point, the right have rightly criticised lefty idiots looking to deplatform speakers which might upset them.

This disgraces ideas of freedom of speech. If, and I emphasize if, she was refused entry on grounds of ideology, it seems just as ridiculous.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

I read this:

According to the American authorities, Ms. Abdel-Magied was denied entry because she failed to disclose that she was being paid to speak at the conference, a violation of her visitor’s visa.

I'm not defending the border folks who have harassed me and my wife too many times over the past few decades, but know it's fairly common for countries like the US - and Australia - to disallow entry for those being paid for an assignment while on a tourist visa.

Call me a cynic, but I wonder if she did this knowingly, hoping to do some bashing to further her agenda. And get more paid gigs.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Who cares if you hold Aussie passport. You can be holding God's passport and still be denied entry to US.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

So one MUSLIM WOMAN is denied access to the U.S on a wrong visa and it makes headlines on this website? Well that is pretty obvious what this site leans towards.... I find it amazing how much coverage the media puts over poor muslim victims...when was the last time you saw spam of Buddhists being murdered? or God forbid....Christians. Na no one actually cares because that isn't IN anymore right?

I support freedom, I love the fact that people still find some happiness in believing there is something out there looking over them. I don't support the fact that this woman in particular came to Australia and is openly saying she would follow Sharia law over the Australian law.... Have any of you actually looked into what Sharia law allows? I'm not going to list it because this comment would probably be removed for being SICK.

As an Australian and a proud one at that I've been really put off with her views displayed on Australian TV. She is always loud and aggressive in her debates and never really states facts. She got Young Australian of the year on one occasion when there is millions of other Australians that help much more that should have received it, that itself is bias. She disrespected ANZAC day with PRO muslim nonsense on her Twitter I do believe as well.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Why try to make this about her views or religion. Even a cursory glance at the U.S. gov travel website clearly says the things she was planning to do (speak and get paid for it) are not allowed under the tourist visa. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

"These are some examples of activities that require different categories of visas and cannot be done while on a visitor visa:

Study

Employment

Paid performances, or any professional performance before a paying audience

Arrival as a crewmember on a ship or aircraft

Work as foreign press, in radio, film, print journalism, or other information media

Permanent residence in the United States"

A ton of visitors sneakily do these things on the wrong visa anyway but they shouldn't be surprised if every so often they get called out on it.

Next time get a proper visa.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Quote from 35,000 feet: “Those who say the world is borderless are those who have the right colour passports -- or birthplace," she tweeted.

She forgot to say “— or visa”.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Read it again:

".....................We’re taking off now."

Tweeting during take off is still against the airline rules, usually.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

If she was getting paid for the speech and only had a tourist visa then it's her mistake!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

5 eyes is only for white folk. Freedom of speech, right to bear arms...just stay away from America. No point.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

The headline is misleading. She has been kicked out of Australia too for her stupid comments about Sharai law and calling the Australian government racist. She now lives in London. If you have a look on YouTube you will find some of her rants. She is not a Muslim activist. She is a full on nutter!

8 ( +9 / -1 )

She now lives in London

Another apologist for Sharia shutting down difference of opinion by calling people racists?

In the UK? Fancy that.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

BigYen: "Now she tries to enter the US on the wrong visa, is sent back to the UK and blames anyone but herself for her troubles."

The WRONG visa? I didn't know there was a CORRECT visitor's visa for Australian nationals. Please do tell us where you are getting your information from, because otherwise you're saying it's for reasons it is not. If there was something wrong with her passport or paperwork, and that's the reason, then fine, but last I heard speaking didn't require any special kind of visa beyond a visitor's.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

I really think that her sharia comments have been blown wayyy out of proportion. I watched this show, she was talking to Jaqui Lambie who's to tassie what Pauline Hanson was to qld i.e. a rather ignorant would-be politician who plays on ppl's fears (and ignorance). Lambie was saying all aussie muslims who practice sharia law (btw which one?) should be deported.

Look at Yassmin A-M (make up, vocal, even sexy at times), it doesn't take a genius to work out that 'her' interpretation of what's 'sharia' doesn't have much in common with Talibans or other extremists' own version which is what bogans like Lambie would like us to believe. Have to say although i don't particularly like YAM am even less of a fan of the likes of Lambie, Dutton or Hanson. They're an embarrassment to their country.

If she was getting paid for the speech and only had a tourist visa then it's her mistake!

I agree. i don't think she was denied entry based on her work/ideas etc (did they even know who she is?)

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Whats the issue with banning trouble-makers ?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Every country should have the right to prevent an individual from entering, particularly if they foresee that the cost of protecting that individual would be a drain upon public resources.

The Wikileaks leader is a good example of this, though he is currently holed up on a foreign embassy...

Cost vs Benefit... needs to be understood by Governments too.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Speaking engagements require a work visa.

Tourism gets a tourist visa, but doesn't allow working.

This is extremely common for all countries to have different visas for different types of visitors.

There's also an education visa for most countries.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Whats the issue with banning trouble-makers ?

Has anyone claimed otherwise?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

She seems to be a garden-variety, bit of a rent-a-mouth, mischief-maker and an apologist for sharia. Ten a penny. I think Linda Sarsour does something similar in the US. The UK has plenty of these types. These people give decent Muslims a bad name.

I don't know too much about her, but I think you're being a bit harsh. She says sharia allows for multiple interpretations and I'm sure it does. I'm not sure what you mean by "decent Muslims" but I suspect she would upset a lot of the old conservative fogies who run many of the mosques in the UK. That makes me smile. I'm reminded of some of my son's loud-mouthed friends and their crazy opinions - mischief-makers perhaps, but they make my life more interesting. I've heard nothing about her that is any way supports violence and suppression of opinion. And apparently she has worked as an engineer on offshore oil rigs. That alone makes her somewhat interesting.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Yassmin Abdel-Magied, an advocate for youth, women and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

Let me tell you straightforward about this woman. She was most hatred woman in Australia. Yassmin Abdel-Magied is anti-Western Government and anti-western society and she even doesn't respect the country which gave her free Education, free Medicare and free Welfare for her and her family.

Australia was good until she got fired from ABC. Also, she was advocated and sympathize for ISIS and other Islamic terrorist groups.

United State has reason for refusing entry to US. Yassmin Abdel-Magied was a self-centered person and she was not doing activism for a good cause, but doing it for her own benefits.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Ihaveaclue, right on! I completely agree.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Rather than trying to change australian society to the sgaria system why dont these types simply choose whichever middle eastern paradise they like most and go live there?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The last paragraph of the article is the gist of this story.

What my government did is called extreme vetting. Glad she was denied entry. Nothing prevents her from taking part in future stateside conferences via Skype.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Performing work in the USA requires a work visa and payment of taxes. There is a tax treaty with Australia

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/international-businesses/australia-tax-treaty-documents

The USA wants their income taxes, but since Australia is probably taxing income at a higher rate than the US, the Aussy Govt will want the difference paid there. The treaty outlines how both sides will share income information to help prevent lost revenue on both sides.

I bet others know more about this than I do. I've never been an Australian resident working in the USA.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

She should go to saudi arabia and try wearing her 'muslim-chic' outfits there.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They deported her back to Australia? From what I understand she works in London now and I would be more than happy if they sent her back there.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

She'll be happy in England.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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