# Can the US ban Ahmadinejad from the country **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817 "2010-09-23T21:38:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/1 "2010-09-23T21:38:56Z")
Given that the everytime Ahmadinejad come to the US, it is to insult us, can we declare him a persona non grata like any other diplomat and prevent him from entering the US or is there a treaty/international law/UN rule that as a head of state, he can come to the US anytime he wants. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/2 "2010-09-23T21:47:58Z")
The US is free to ban any non-citizen they like. The only exception would be that they can’t restrict him access to the UN in New York. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/3 "2010-09-24T00:02:46Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > The US is free to ban any non-citizen they like. The only exception would be that they can’t restrict him access to the UN in New York. And that’s the rub. Don’t you have to enter the US to go to NY to go to the UN? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/4 "2010-09-24T00:05:11Z")
Much as I’d like to say otherwise, doing so would defeat the purpose of the UN. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/5 "2010-09-24T00:36:40Z")
Delegates traveling to the UN have diplomatic status and thus cannot be prevented from going there. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/6 "2010-09-24T00:45:18Z")
I’m not so sure we should ban Ahmadinejad and his ilk. We need to be reminded once in awhile that we have it pretty good in the leadership department compared to some parts of the world. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/7 "2010-09-24T01:08:57Z")
Castro has been coming to the US for years to visit the UN. We allow it because we’re the host nation for the UN General Assembly. But everyone coming to the US is required to show a passport; even Castro and Ahmadinejad are required to show one. Whether they really do or not–that’s up to the US government. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/8 "2010-09-24T01:11:26Z")
Why do you care? He makes a fool out of himself most of the time . Let him talk. He is not a danger to us. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/9 "2010-09-24T02:26:56Z")
It is part of the treaty governing the UN Headquarters in New York. The US is obligated under the treaty to allow foreign heads of state and other diplomats come into the New York area for purposes of attending the UN, even if we wouldn’t let them into the country otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/10 "2010-09-24T02:59:42Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Much as I’d like to say otherwise, doing so would defeat the purpose of the UN. Yes, and it is part of the deal we struck with the world to house the UN. Of course, doing so would also defeat the purpose of the US itself, which is an even better reason not to think of it. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/11 "2010-09-24T04:03:08Z")
Well, it’s not as if the US is that complimentary about him. As a compromise, America could give up hosting the UN and it could move to Tehran. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/12 "2010-09-24T07:38:30Z")
> [@user\_hostile](#): > > Castro has been coming to the US for years to visit the UN. We allow it because we’re the host nation for the UN General Assembly. But everyone coming to the US is required to show a passport; even Castro and Ahmadinejad are required to show one. Whether they really do or not–that’s up to the US government. If that’s really the rule, then I suspect it’s routinely waived for certain people. Queen Elizabeth II, for example, does not have a passport (the reasoning being that all UK passports are issued in her name, so it would be ridiculous for her to issue one for herself) and yet she’s visited the US at least six times. ---
**Author:** ![komolono](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/komolono/32/532_2.png) [@komolono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/komolono)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/13 "2010-09-24T09:37:04Z")
…his speech 2006 was right on the money > **[Transcript of Ahmadinejad's U.N. Speech](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6107339)** > > What afflicts humanity today is certainly not compatible with human dignity; the Almighty has not created human beings so that they could transgress against others and oppress them. By causing war and conflict, some are fast expanding their... Yesterday he just added some truther’s elements - maybe he watched this documentary > **[Canada's CBC airs 9/11 Documentary: 'The Unofficial Story' - 911Truth.Org](https://911truth.org/canadas-cbc-airs-911-documentary-the-unofficial-story/)** > > Update: Apparently, this video is not yet available for viewing at CBC's site. Below are segments of the program now posted at youtube. JM ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/14 "2010-09-24T12:51:17Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Given that the everytime Ahmadinejad come to the US, it is to insult us, can we declare him a persona non grata like any other diplomat and prevent him from entering the US or is there a treaty/international law/UN rule that as a head of state, he can come to the US anytime he wants. How did Ahmadinejad insult the US? Did you read the text of his speech? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/15 "2010-09-24T16:05:34Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Delegates traveling to the UN have diplomatic status and thus cannot be prevented from going there. Diplomats must receive visas to visit any country. As far as I can tell, there’s no legal obligation for the United States to issue a visa to any diplomat. In fact, [the State Department](http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1263.html) website makes clear that visitors to the UN must receive visas, although at no charge. In fact, there was clearly an [application](http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/28/irans-president-seeks-visa-nuclear-summit/) by the Iranian delegation for a US visa, as has been done in the [past.](http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1929065920070319) And the US has denied visas to delegations visiting the UN from countries the US does not [recognize.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Abkhazia#Visa_Problems) However, the political implications of denying a foreign head of government access to the United Nations are significant. Since the Republic has managed to survive Castro, Khrushchev, Chavez, Idi Amin, and many other notorious figures, I hardly think that the presence of Ahmadinejad is anything to get too worked up over. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/16 "2010-09-24T17:01:56Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > How did Ahmadinejad insult the US? Did you read the text of his speech? He did say that the majority of Americans believe that a Zionist conspiracy in the U.S. government orchestrated the 9/11 attacks. I’d say that that insults the intelligence of the American people. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/17 "2010-09-24T17:19:48Z")
Given that [24% of Americans believe that Obama is a Muslim](http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2011799,00.html), it’s not too much of a stretch to think a majority believe something equally stupid, such as a government and/or Zionist conspiracy behind 9/11. ---
**Author:** ![Redpill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Redpill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redpill)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/18 "2010-09-24T17:31:10Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Given that the everytime Ahmadinejad come to the US, it is to insult us, can we declare him a persona non grata?.. So much for the freedom of speech, eh? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/19 "2010-09-24T17:34:53Z")
[http://gadebate.un.org/Portals/1/statements/634208557381562500IR\_en.pdf](http://gadebate.un.org/Portals/1/statements/634208557381562500IR_en.pdf) (PDF warning) Ahmadinejad’s statements, 9/23/10 > [@](#): > > In identifying those responsible for the [9/11] attack, there were three viewpoints. > > \ > > 1. That some segments within the U.S. government orchestrated the attack to > reverse the declining American economy and its grips on the Middle East in order > also to save the Zionist regime. > The majority of the American people as well as other nations and politicians agree > with this view. This is potentially insulting to past and present elected leaders of the U.S., besides being factually incorrect. also: > [@](#): > > It is proposed that the United Nations set up an independent fact-finding group for > the event of the II September so that in the future expressing views about it is not > forbidden. Forbidden? By who? WTF is he talking about? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817/20 "2010-09-24T17:44:12Z")
> [@Redpill](#): > > So much for the freedom of speech, eh? It would undoubtedly be jarring for the poor guy, as the figurehead of a nation where free speech is held in such high esteem. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-the-us-ban-ahmadinejad-from-the-country/554817.md?page=2)