Washington, August 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The United States has revoked the visa of an Iraqi national who received an International Women of Courage Award from the Biden administration after she was placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Terror Watchlist, the State Department said on Friday.
Taif Sami Mohammed Al Shakarchi is no longer in the United States, according to a statement issued by Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson.
“The U.S. Department of State has revoked the visa of an Iraqi national who was presented an award by the Biden Administration for her purported role in fighting corruption and her advocacy for ‘gender equity,’” the statement said.
Al Shakarchi received the International Women of Courage Award in 2022. The award was presented by then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken and then-First Lady Jill Biden.
The annual honour recognises women from around the world for demonstrating courage, leadership and commitment to causes including peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
The State Department said the visa revocation followed Al Shakarchi’s placement on the FBI’s Terror Watchlist. However, it did not disclose details about the information underlying her inclusion on the list or explain the process through which she was placed on it.
“This Iraqi national’s visa has now been revoked by the State Department following her placement on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Terror Watchlist,” Johnson said. “She is no longer present in the United States.”
The statement presented the action as part of the Trump administration’s broader national security and immigration policies.
“Under President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suspected terrorists will never be allowed to remain in the United States,” it said.
The State Department did not clarify whether Al Shakarchi was ordered to leave the country, departed voluntarily or was already outside the US when her visa was revoked.
The decision represents a sharp reversal in the US government’s treatment of Al Shakarchi. In 2022, she was publicly honoured by the Biden administration for what it described as her efforts to combat corruption and advocate for women.
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