Taif Sami denies US terror watchlist placement
BAGHDAD,— The State Department revoked the U.S. visa of former Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami (Taif Sami Mohammed Al Shakarchi) and placed her on the FBI’s terrorism watchlist, the department said in a statement Friday.
The statement said the department pulled the visa of the Iraqi national, who had previously received an award from the Biden administration for her purported role in fighting corruption and her advocacy for “gender equity.”
Sami received the International Woman of Courage Award in 2022 from former Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former first lady Jill Biden.
The honor recognizes women from around the world who have shown “exceptional courage, strength, and leadership” in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equity and equality, and the empowerment of women and girls, in all their diversity, according to the award’s description.
The State Department said the Iraqi national’s visa has now been revoked following her placement on the FBI’s Terror Watchlist, and that she is no longer present in the United States.
The department said that under President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suspected terrorists will never be allowed to remain in the United States.
Sami was in charge of Iraq’s finance ministry under former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s cabinet, before she was replaced earlier in 2026 by Falih al-Sari.
On Friday, Sami denied being placed on the FBI’s terrorism watchlist or having her U.S. visa revoked, according to Iraqi state media, contradicting the earlier State Department statement.
In a statement published by Iraq’s state-run news agency, INA, Sami “categorically” denied “what is being circulated regarding my inclusion on any US terrorism watch list or my classification within terrorism lists.”
She said what is being said about her being barred from entering the United States is “nothing more than political statements representing the positions of members of Congress.”
(With files from U.S. Department of State | Agencies)
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