Alhamdullah.
I don't for a moment trust the US State Dept.'s real motives.
But let us thank Allah anyway!
YES !
--
G. Waleed Kavalec
-------------------------------------
And those who strive in Our (cause),
We will certainly guide them to our Paths:
For verily Allah is with those who do right.
-- Qur'an, Al-'Ankabut, Surah 29:69
http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusintl/ap03-18-032528.asp?reg=asia&vts=31820050707#body
U.S. Embassy revokes visa of top Indian state official for allegedly
violating religious freedom
India slams decision
NEW DELHI, March 18
The U.S. Embassy on Friday denied a visa to the Hindu
nationalist chief minister of India's western Gujarat state over his
role in 2002 religious riots. India slammed the decision, saying it
showed a ''lack of courtesy and sensitivity.''
Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a leader of India's main
opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, was denied a diplomatic visa to
travel to the United States and his existing tourist/business visa was
revoked, a U.S. embassy spokesman said.
With the U.S. ambassador to India out of town, Indian officials
summoned his deputy Robert Blake ''to lodge a strong protest ... and
to request an urgent reconsideration,'' the External Affairs ministry
said.
''This action ... is uncalled for and displays lack of courtesy
and sensitivity toward a constitutionally elected chief minister of a
state of India,'' the ministry said in a statement, expressing the
government's ''deep concern and regret.''
Modi called the decision an insult to India.
Some 1,000 people â mostly Muslims â were killed in the
religious riots in Gujarat in 2002. The riots were sparked by an
attack on a train car in which 60 Hindus returning from a religious
pilgrimage were burned to death. Muslim mobs were blamed for the fire.
But human rights groups accused Modi's Bharatiya Janata
Party-led state government of doing little to stop the violence, and
the Supreme Court criticized its lenient handling of Hindus accused of
killing Muslims.
The U.S. embassy spokesman said on condition of anonymity that
Modi was ineligible for a visa under a U.S. law that makes any foreign
government official who ''was responsible for or directly carried out,
at any time, particularly severe violations of religious freedom.''
The embassy official also said Modi ''was denied a diplomatic
visa under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act because he was not
coming for the purpose that qualified for a diplomatic visa.''
Modi had been scheduled to address an association of motel
owners in New York this weekend. He also had planned to meet with
Indian nationals in Florida and in New Jersey.
Modi called the U.S. decision ''an insult to India and its
constitution.''
''The United States can't impose its laws on other countries.
In the same way, India should deny visas to U.S. officials as a
protest against Washington's policies in Iraq,'' Modi said.
2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom
(i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue
with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone
astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.}
(Holy Quran-16:125)
{And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in
His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites
(men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I
am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33)
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if
Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of
camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever
calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who
follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all."
[Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah]
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