by Believers Stand United
A Catholic nun from Iraq who was scheduled to speak about her religious persecution by ISIS has been denied access into the U.S. because government officials believe she would attempt to stay in the country illegally.
Sister Diana Momeka of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine submitted a short-term visa application to enter the U.S. for a limited speaking engagement. During her stay, she was also going to meet with the Senate and House Foreign Relations Committees, the State Department, USAID and other organizations. Her application was endorsed by high-ranking government officials and religious organizations, including Rep. Anna Eshoo of Calif., Rep. Frank Wolf of Va., and The Cradle Fund, an organization that assists persecuted Christians in the Middle East.
The application was denied and an accompanying letter explained that she was considered an IDP or “Internally Displaced Person” in Iraq. In other words, she was forced to leave her home in Iraq but still remains within the country’s borders. Therefore, U.S. government officials feared she would attempt to stay in the U.S. after her visa expired. The U.S. State Department has refused to comment on the denial of Sister Momeka’s visa application.
Until August of 2014, Sister Momeka lived in Northern Iraq in the city of Qaraqosh, where she taught spiritual direction, English and peacemaking at St. Ephrem Seminary. However, last August, ISIS invaded the city, forcing her and 50,000 others to leave.
Take Action
Contact the U.S. State Department and express your disappointment and disapproval of their denied entry to Sister Momeka when she has such a powerful, worldwide peaceful message to communicate.
A Catholic nun from Iraq who was scheduled to speak about her religious persecution by ISIS has been denied access into the U.S. because government officials believe she would attempt to stay in the country illegally.
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Sister Diana Momeka of the Dominican
Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena
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The application was denied and an accompanying letter explained that she was considered an IDP or “Internally Displaced Person” in Iraq. In other words, she was forced to leave her home in Iraq but still remains within the country’s borders. Therefore, U.S. government officials feared she would attempt to stay in the U.S. after her visa expired. The U.S. State Department has refused to comment on the denial of Sister Momeka’s visa application.
Until August of 2014, Sister Momeka lived in Northern Iraq in the city of Qaraqosh, where she taught spiritual direction, English and peacemaking at St. Ephrem Seminary. However, last August, ISIS invaded the city, forcing her and 50,000 others to leave.
Why It Matters
The U.S. has hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants flooding through its borders and has even taken steps to ensure they can legally stay. However, the government will not allow a persecuted Christian nun from Iraq to enter the country for a speaking engagement for fear she will stay illegally? The hypocrisy on display by the U.S. government is ludicrous.
The U.S. has hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants flooding through its borders and has even taken steps to ensure they can legally stay. However, the government will not allow a persecuted Christian nun from Iraq to enter the country for a speaking engagement for fear she will stay illegally? The hypocrisy on display by the U.S. government is ludicrous.
Take Action
Contact the U.S. State Department and express your disappointment and disapproval of their denied entry to Sister Momeka when she has such a powerful, worldwide peaceful message to communicate.
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