by Selina Bakkar in Culture & Lifestyle on 21st December, 2018
After almost a year of having her visa denied due to the Muslim ban, Shaima Swileh an American citizen has finally been re-united with her son, after months of pleading and begging to the U.S. State Department from both husband Ali Hassan and wife requesting entry into the country to see the couple’s terminally ill 2-year-old son The unique and sad circumstances drew the attention of the public and the involvement of CAIR National who have been supporting the couple. CAIR commented “It should never have come to this. Shaima should never have been separated from her son as his condition deteriorated,” CAIR wrote Thursday on Twitter. “This shows the cruelty of the Muslim Ban. And so many more families are separated.”
#DEVELOPING Ali Hassan pleads for @StateDept to allow his Yemeni wife to travel from Egypt to @UCSFChildrens to say goodbye to their terminally ill 2 yr old son Abdullah. Shaima Swileh has so far been denied under @realDonaldTrump travel ban. #abc7now pic.twitter.com/8CZKSFvMqP
— Laura Anthony (@LauraAnthony7) December 17, 2018
The Muslim ban affects 7 countries which include the couples country of origin Yemen along with North Korea, Syria, Libya, Iran, Venezuela and Somalia and Chad was removed in April. This is the government’s third version of a controversial policy since Mr Trump took office in January. The latest travel ban says that the countries “remain deficient at this time with respect to their identity-management and information-sharing capabilities, protocols, and practices. In some cases, these countries also have a significant terrorist presence within their territory”.
Over the months we have seen the travel ban manifest and cause distress and difficulty for thousands but this particular case has highlighted how cruel the ban actually is once in effect. Swileh flew out of Egypt and landed Wednesday night at San Francisco International Airport. She is expected to travel University of California San Francisco’s Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland to reunite with Abdullah, who is on life support.
“All families belong together. There is nobody that should be separated,” Hassan said.
We would like to ask you to keep the family and families like theirs in your duas.
Yemeni Mom Reunites With Her Terminally Ill Toddler In U.S. After Trump Travel Ban Waiver
The advocacy group Council on American-Islamic Relations, which has been… https://t.co/YW9LSFV5Du
— CAIR National (@CAIRNational) December 20, 2018
This is Shaima Swileh arriving st @flySFO after being kept away from her dying son by the #MuslimBan. She’s home, home, bittersweet home! It’s a mournful one, but the good guys took a win tonight. pic.twitter.com/Wy24OWCPpn
— Zahra Billoo (@ZahraBilloo) December 20, 2018
A large crowd awaits the arrival of Shaima Swileh, the Yemeni mom who is arriving shortly at SFO before she visits her dying son Abdullah Hassan in Oakland. https://t.co/Mj5S5IRO92 pic.twitter.com/OAS3GhvoRL
— KPIX 5 (@KPIXtv) December 20, 2018
Also here are a great number of Yemeni-Americans from the Bay Area & beyond who came to support Shaima Swileh. They say her 2 y/o son is everyone’s son. #ktvu pic.twitter.com/nfm9tc78Qr
— Azenith Smith (@AzenithKTVU) December 20, 2018
Shaima Swileh, the #Yemeni mother of a gravely ill 2-year-old boy, waits with her husband, Ali Hassan, after arriving at #SFO after more than a year of having her visa denied due to #travelban #Yemen Photo by @ScottStrazzante @sfchronicle pic.twitter.com/SaDRCniaDP
— Scott Strazzante (@ScottStrazzante) December 20, 2018
I'm a simply striving to be better and improve in different areas of my life through more self awareness, experiences and learning more about the deen. You'll find me talking about community, connection, planting & growing, seeking the truth in an age of propaganda and misinformation. This year I want to document more to do with food heritage and history so watch this space or reach out. Have a listen to the Amaliah Voices podcast where I talk passionately about Islam, nature, motherhooding and back home. Link in bio peeps. To join the Amaliah Writer Community email me at selina@amaliah.com IG: SelinaBakkar