Government & Politics

Muslim American groups support US withdrawal from Afghanistan USCMO urges Biden, Congress to 'pull back' any American armed forces deployed over past 20 years in Middle East, elsewhere

(Anadolu) Muslim groups in the US voiced support for the country’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. The US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO) released a written statement late Tuesday, hailing President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw the US military from Afghanistan by the Aug. […]

Immigration

Kabul evacuee with potential ISIS ties detained at Qatar base Up to 100 evacuees have been flagged for further scrutiny during the more comprehensive screening they received at their first stop after Afghanistan.

(Defense One) Security screeners at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar have detected that at least one of the Afghans who was evacuated from Kabul Airport has potential ties to ISIS, a U.S. official confirmed to Defense One. Moreover, the Defense Department’s […]

Government & Politics

Afghanistan: Person on no-fly list flown into UK during evacuation operation, MPs told The individual, who is not being identified by the government, is understood to have reached UK soil on a British military plane, with officials being alerted overnight.'

(Sky News) A person from Afghanistan on the UK’s no-fly list has been flown into Birmingham as part of the British evacuation operation in a potential security breach, MPs have been told. The individual, who is not being identified by the government, […]

Legal

Second Circuit orders tougher sentence for Islamic State supporter A three-judge panel agreed with federal prosecutors that Sinmyah Amera Ceasar’s two-year sentence for supporting the Islamic State terrorist group was too lenient.

(Courthouse News) A federal appeals court vacated the sentence of an Islamic State supporter on Wednesday after federal prosecutors argued she got off too easy. Sinmyah Amera Ceasar, a U.S. citizen also known by her online nom de guerre Umm Nutella — […]

Government & Politics

Criticism as mayor of Nice says city will not accept Afghan refugees Mayor said decision was due to Nice having been a victim of ‘considerable terrorism’ in recent years but many have criticised his linking of refugees and terrorism

(Connexion) Nice will not allow Afghan refugees to settle, mayor Christian Estrosi has said, because the city has suffered due to Islamic terrorism in recent years. When asked on RTL if Nice would welcome refugees, Mr Estrosi said: “No, no, it’s very […]

Government & Politics

Trump barred from Twitter, but Taliban spokesman tweets away The Taliban swept into Afghanistan’s capital Sunday after the government collapsed

(Fox) Twitter’s standards were called into question on Sunday after users pointed out that a key Taliban spokesman has been using the platform to give updates about the group’s advance within the country while former President Trump’s account remains permanently suspended. Zabihullah […]

Immigration

US prepares to house thousands of Afghan refugees on American military installations Kirby says American citizens will not be given priority evacuation over Afghan SIV applicants

(Fox) The Department of Defense is preparing to immediately house thousands of Afghan refugees on American military installations, Fox News confirmed late Sunday. Documents obtained by Fox News show DoD plans to potentially relocate up to 30,000 Afghan SIV applicants into the […]

Government & Politics

Macron calls for European plan to manage Afghan migration French president says ‘we must anticipate and protect ourselves against major irregular migratory flows.’

(Politico) France and Germany will push for a European plan to tackle migration flows from Afghanistan as people flee the Taliban’s control, Emmanuel Macron said Monday evening. “We must anticipate and protect ourselves against major irregular migratory flows that would endanger those […]

Government & Politics

Migration fears complicate Europe’s response to Afghanistan crisis As the Taliban took control of the country, there were chaotic scenes at Kabul airport as hundreds tried to flee.

(Politico) For Afghans desperate to flee the Taliban takeover of their country, Europe had — at best — mixed messages to offer. As the evacuation from Kabul airport grew increasingly chaotic Monday, with footage emerging of Afghans attempting to cling to a departing […]