Austria 'cancelles' visas for 300 Iranians following US government decisions
The Associated Press reports that Austria has blocked the entry of 300 non-Muslim Iranians who were hoping to travel to the United States after a temporary stay in the country.
This is said to be a consequence of Mr. Trump's plan to temporarily prevent the issuance of visas to residents of seven Islamic countries, including Iran.
According to a plan passed by the US Congress 27 years ago, Austria served as a passageway for Iranian Jews, Christians, and Baha'is who were at risk in their own country to the United States.
American officials in Austria were interviewing this group of Iranian immigrants, but the Associated Press, citing Austrian officials, writes that the "Lautenberg program for Iranians" has been suspended in recent days.
The news agency writes that this development is not directly related to the order signed on Friday by US President Donald Trump, but is one of the effects and consequences of taking a tougher stance on immigration to the United States.
Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Thomas Schönle said the country blocked the entry of these people after “American officials told us that further travel to the United States, namely those who received their visas from Austrian authorities as part of that (Lautenberg) program, would be temporarily suspended.”
The US State Department said in an email on Tuesday that the Austrian government had “electronically canceled” the visas of those who had not yet entered the country.
Mr. Schönel said the decision would affect about 300 Iranians who had obtained Austrian visas and wanted to enter the country.
He said that about 100 of them had been contacted and informed that they could not come to Austria. He said that efforts were ongoing to contact the rest of them.
Other officials said that a small number of Iranians are currently in Austria on temporary visas, but their fate is unknown.
The Hebrew-Speaking Immigrant Aid Society said the end of the program “endangers the lives of those seeking religious freedom and sends the wrong message about widespread violations of religious freedom in Iran.”
Donald Trump signed an order on Friday to "enforce vetting" of people planning to travel or immigrate to the United States.
Source: BBC
