The Taif Sami visa revocation has sparked controversy after the US Department of State confirmed that it cancelled the former Iraqi finance minister’s visa following her reported placement on the FBI Terror Watchlist.
Assistant Secretary Dylan Johnson confirmed the decision on Friday, stating that the State Department revoked the visa of the Iraqi national after the FBI placed her on its Terror Watchlist. He also said that Sami is no longer present in the United States.
The development has drawn significant attention because Sami previously received international recognition from the US government. In 2022, the State Department honored her with the International Women of Courage Award.
Sami served as Iraq’s finance minister from October 2022 until she left the position in early July. Before entering the cabinet, she held several senior positions within Iraq’s financial institutions.
In March 2022, the US government recognized Sami for her work supporting human rights and gender equality. Officials also praised her efforts to combat corruption and protect Iraq’s public finances.
However, the situation surrounding the Taif Sami visa revocation now presents a sharp contrast with that earlier recognition.
US lawmakers had previously accused Sami of facilitating terrorist financing through Iraq’s financial system. They urged the administration of President Donald Trump to take action against her and impose sanctions.
Those lawmakers described her as an important figure allegedly involved in enabling terrorist funding inside Iraq. However, Sami has strongly rejected the accusations against her.
Johnson said the Trump administration would not allow suspected terrorists to remain in the United States. He also criticized previous policies that he claimed had failed to address potential security threats.
Meanwhile, Sami responded to the reports later on Friday and rejected claims surrounding her travel status and alleged inclusion on terrorism-related watchlists.
She said that information circulating about the matter was false and stressed that she remains inside Iraq. She also denied claims suggesting that US authorities had imposed a travel ban against her.
Furthermore, Sami described the allegations as political rhetoric reflecting the positions of certain members of Congress. She argued that reports about the matter lacked official documentation from competent authorities.
The former minister also denied receiving any legal summons connected to the allegations. She said no official institution had provided documents supporting the claims published about her.
Sami further warned that she would pursue legal action against individuals or organizations that deliberately spread false or misleading information about her.
The Taif Sami visa revocation has therefore created fresh questions about the allegations against the former minister and the evidence supporting them. As of Friday, Sami continued to deny the accusations and insisted that reports concerning her legal status contained false information.
