Yemini Journalist Secures Visa After Being Barred From The U.S.

Click on the 'Listen' button above to hear this segment. 

Afrah Nasser began working as a reporter in her home country of Yemen in 2008, writing about social and cultural issues and avoiding a crackdown by the government on journalists who wrote about political events. But after the Arab Spring, she was motivated to begin writing about the government, corruption, and the lack of press freedom.  Her articles were censored, prompting her to start a blog that gained global attention and also made her the target of death threats.  

She now lives in Sweden, where she applied for political asylum and quickly gained citizenship. She continues to write about corruption in Yemen, where her family and friends  still live.

The Committee to Protect Journalists awarded Nasser their highest award honoring press freedom, and invited her to a ceremony here in the U.S. next month. But President Trump's travel ban restricts travelers from Yemen, and despite her Swedish citizenship, her visa application was denied twice. She returned to the U.S. embassy today for a third time. 

Afrah Nasser, editor-in-chief Sanaa Review, shares her story today on The Takeaway. Click on the 'Listen' button above to hear the full conversation.

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.