Mohammed Omer, the Gaza journalist who was beaten by Israeli forces at immigration after he accepted a prize for his reporting in Europe last year, is apparently now being blocked from doing a speaking gig in Chicago, with Ali Abunimah. His support group has called for the U.S. to let him in and reports:
The U.S. consulate has held award-winning Palestinian Journalist Mohammed Omer’s visa application for an extended period of time, effectively canceling his planned U.S. speaking tour without the explanation that a denial would require…
Omer was to visit Houston, Santa Fe, and Chicago, where local publisher Haymarket Books was to host his Newberry Library event, “Reflections on Life and War in Gaza,” alongside a broad set of interfaith religious, community, and political organizations….
Rather than cancel the meeting, organizers are calling on supporters to write letters and emails calling for the U.S. consulate’s approval of Omer’s visa. They are also proceeding with the event as planned, via live satellite or skype, if necessary. A petition currently underway will also be announced soon.
Well, the US Supreme Court has already established that free speech is actually supposed to cost millions, at least.
And anyone who’s been part of the anti-war protest movement for the past several years knows, when the media’s not ignoring you, then the cops are using pepper spray and sound cannons to herd you into “free speech zones.”
This would be the worst aspect of our relationship with Israel for most Americans. There’s something profoundly un-American that is getting exported from Israel to us by way of Zionism.
The US must allow Mohammed Omer to speak what ever he wants as long as it is not slander against anyone. If he speaks lies, then broadcast and inform the public through facts and rebuttal arguments. Let the people know the truth and the truth shall make them free…
Anyone who suppresses truth is not worth believing either….
And besides, if he carries lies let him amplify them either…If he speaks lies, let him ‘professionally kill’ himself… After a strong and factual rebuttal his truth-based career is ‘dead’ and is good as useless. He will not be a problem to Israel anymore…
what the hell are you blathering about, psycho
the guy has already been detained. i believe it’s happened before. israel has repeatedly done this kind of thing, not just to journalists but to peace activists – and you change the subject to a hypothetical?
obviously if he was a liar, then they wouldn’t give a damn
how about you stick to your inanely idiotic religious rants. everyone knows your intentions, zionist
It. never. ends.
Ambassador Fay Hartog Levin
U.S. Embassy in The Hague
Lange Voorhout 102
2514 EJ
The Netherlands
Dear Ambassador Levin:
It has come to my attention that the U.S. consulate in the Netherlands has put an extended hold on the visa application of award-winning Palestinian journalist and photographer Mohammed Omer, scheduled to speak on conditions in Palestine, on April 5th in Chicago.
Is this true? If so, might I inquire as to the rationale for this decision?
Kindest regards, [SNARK ALERT! - JLD]
John Lewis-Dickerson
Atlanta, Georgia USA
P.S.
SEE: Yet another campaign “suggestion” broken. Chicagoan Fay Hartog Levin to be Ambassador to Netherlands. July 4, 2009 by Brenda J. Elliott
(EXCERPT) Fay Hartog Levin becomes the third Chicagoan picked by POTUS for an ambassadorship. Levin, an Illinois Finance Committee member for PrezCanO’s presidential campaign, is headed to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
In the 2008 cycle, Levin contributed $2100 in 2007. By contributing $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund in July 2008, Levin earned the status of Mega-Donor. Previously, Levin contributed $12,000 to Obama For Illinois in 2003 and $4000 in 2002.
Levin joins fellow Chicagoans, “Big Obama fund-raisers Lou Sussman for England and David Jacobson for Canada,” Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. And let’s not forget another Obama fundraiser ambassadorial entry, Charles H. Rivkin, who was officially named June 1 as Chief of Mission to France and Monaco….
ENTIRE POST – link to therealbarackobama.wordpress.com
Those names seem to have something in common.
$50k to buy an ambassadorship to the Netherlands? Hmm. Doesn’t say much for the Dutch but does kinda explain the underwear bomber.
This is a problem broadly for Muslim or Arab scholars (or any Arab or Muslim). When a conference was held in memory of Edward Said a few years ago, it was located in London (if I remember correctly) because it was too difficult to get visas for too many of the participants.
Just in case anyone forgot or did not read what was done to Mr. Omer –
ISRAEL DETAINS AND TORTURES AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST
I am trying to find information about this from Haymarket Books, but there is nothing about Mohammed Omer.
Here you go potsherd –
STATEMENT: HAYMARKET BOOKS
For more information contact:
Contact:
Sarah Macaraeg, 312-315-8476
sarah@haymarketbooks.org
Thankee!
.
.
Speaking about crackdowns on free speech, where was the US MSM when the following poll results were available, results delineating how the USA elite and the masses think differently about
the importance of Israel to the USA?
link to counterpunch.org
Alas, cannot force MSM to print this or that. Bloggers, of course, can repeat these very interesting Pew research results to their hearts’ content.
BTW, Pew questionaire appears NOT to have inquired about “international law” (indeed, “law” did not appear in the published result
.Update: Mohammad Omer got his visa to come to US”, says Muzzlewatch.