U.S. terrorist watch list untroubling to Black Muslim leader

July 9, 2002

ATLANTA: The Southeastern Legal Foundation today called on the U.S. Departments of Justice and State to investigate Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan's recent travel - in apparent violation of the Logan Act - to Syria and Iraq, two nations listed on the U.S. State Department's terrorist watch list.

The Logan Act, enacted nearly 200 years ago, prohibits U.S. citizens without government authorization from interfering in relations between the United States and foreign governments.

"Farrakhan has again disgraced the American people and betrayed world sentiment by proclaiming 'solidarity' between American Muslims and the Iraqi regime," said Phil Kent, SLF President. "We trust that the court of public opinion will see Farrakhan's trip as a failed public relations stunt, and we expect sharp rebukes from peace-minded Muslims in the United States."

Kent also called on the U.S. State Department to move aggressively on Bush administration efforts to curtail visas for individuals from terrorist watch list nations. According to congressional sources, between late October and December 1, 2001, the U.S. State Department granted 14,344 visas to Syrian applicants and 2,993 visas to Iraqi applicants. Iraq and Syria are listed as nations in which al Qaeda operates.

"The Bush administration, Congress and the American people are of one voice - end the free flow of travel and immigration between the U.S. and nations that harbor terrorists," said Kent. "Someone needs to get the word to the U.S. State Department - we must prevent terrorist candidates from entering the U.S., and we must prevent U.S. terrorist sympathizers from travel to terrorist-supporting states." Kent likened Farrakhan's visit to Iraq with the infamous "Hanoi Jane" Vietnam-era visits, in which actress and ultraliberal activist Jane Fonda traveled to North Vietnam to proclaim 'solidarity' with the totalitarian regime.

For More Information Contact:
Media Relations
media@southeasternlegal.org
(404) 365-8500