Rep. Doug Collins Seeks Answers for Iraqi Christian Leader

Statement

In a letter to the Secretary of State, Congressman Doug Collins is asking John Kerry why his agency denied a temporary travel visa to a Christian nun, scheduled to visit members of Congress and human rights groups in Washington, D.C., with Iraqi religious leaders this month.

"She's the only Christian and the only one barred from entry," said the Congressman, a former Baptist pastor and member of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. "I want to make sure she's not being singled out because of her faith."

"It's a question we have to ask ourselves, because this president refuses to recognize Christian persecution or even Islamic terrorism," said Collins. "But ISIS is waging religious genocide. The world needs to hear from brave people like Sister Diana."

For a series of May informational meetings, the State Department granted non-immigrant travel visas to leaders of Yazidi and Shiite religious groups, all victims of ISIS violence, but denied Sister Diana Momeka's application. The agency claims she is a risk to overstay her visa.

"The department is accusing a nun on a diplomatic mission of misrepresenting herself. That's an insult to tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians she represents," said the Congressman. He explained that major international organizations have offered to sponsor the sister's trip. "I'm amazed at the lengths the Obama Administration will go to avoid the truth about anti-Christian violence around the world."

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