US grants Afghan activist a visa

[ProSense]

US grants Afghan activist a visa

By Jenna Duncan, Globe Correspondent

The US State Department decided today it will grant Afghan activist Malalai Joya a visa for a three-week speaking tour, reversing an earlier decision denying her entry to the country.

The announcement came after nationwide protests, including one in Harvard Square Wednesday night, and support for Joya from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union. She is now expected to speak Friday evening with Noam Chomsky at Memorial Church in Harvard Yard.

“We hope the decision to grant a visa to Ms. Joya is a signal that the Obama administration is committed to facilitating, rather than obstructing, the exchange of ideas across international borders,” Carol Rose, the executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, said in a statement.

The ACLU and other organizations have written appeals to government officials in the past few weeks expressing their concern over the denial of Joya's visa. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry were among the recipients.

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[ProSense]

1. No comment? n/t

[Amonester]

2. Yes. The fact that it was denied to begin with is a shame in itself.

Who took the first decision? A neocon leftover, maybe.

[DevonRex]

3. Great news! Thanks for the update.

[Amonester]

4. K&R n/t