Kuwait denies it imposed Trump-style travel ban

A report on the Jordanian news website Al Bawaba alleged Kuwait had 'mirrored' the Trump administration’s temporary ban on travellers from seven mainly-Muslim countries – which prompted the response 'Smart!' on the US president's official Facebook page on Thursday

Donald Trump, pictured here with his wife, Melania Trump, on February 4, 2017. Reports Kuwait had 'mirrored' the US president's ban on travellers from seven mainly-Muslim countries prompted him to resShow more

Kuwait has denied imposing a travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, a story that US president Donald Trump praised on Facebook.

A report on the Jordanian news website Al Bawaba alleged Kuwait had “mirrored “ the Trump administration’s temporary ban on travellers from seven named countries – which prompted the response “Smart!” on Mr Trump’s official Facebook page on Thursday.

The article alleged that “Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians, Pakistanis and Afghans” would not be allowed to enter the Gulf state “while the blanket ban is in place”.

But Kuwait’s foreign ministry refuted the report, which was widely picked up by news websites popular with Trump supporters including Breitbart, Infowars and Sputnik.

Kuwait “categorically denies these claims and affirms that these reported nationalities ... have big communities in Kuwait and enjoy full rights”, a ministry spokesman was quoted on state news agency Kuna on Friday.

Citizens of the countries mentioned visit Kuwait regularly, it added.

Representatives of the proscribed countries as well as several neighbouring nations condemned the move, but on his Twitter account, president Trump said the initiative enjoyed support in the region.

“Interesting that certain Middle-Eastern countries agree with the ban. They know if certain people are allowed in it’s death & destruction!” he wrote.

* Reuters