If Elected, Donald Trump To Spare London Mayor From Muslim Travel Ban
As feisty and firm as he appears to be, it looks like Donald Trump does believe in giving an exception to a certain rule that's dragging controversy in all facets of politics. After the recently unrivaled Republican presidential candidate announced his desire to impose a temporary ban on Muslims entering the U.S., he followed it up by suggesting that London's new mayor, who happens to be a Muslim himself, should be exempted to that policy.
But Mayor Sadiq Khan does not in any way take it as a compliment. Speaking to the media in London on Saturday, the newly-elected mayor of the British capital instead said that Trump is nothing but an "ignorant" interpretation on religion of Islam. The New York Times first reported of Trump's controversial statement, adding that the billionaire and real estate mogul is actually elated to learn that Khan, who is of Pakistani origin, won the London election.
Reuters said that Trump thought of the idea of banning Muslims entering the United States right after a series of attacks in California and Paris left many people dead. He seems to be envisioning a safer America by way of preventing possible radicalized Muslims entering and integrating into society. However, his proposal was met with extreme criticism and opposition, most notably from human rights organizations, Muslim advocates, his Democratic rivals, and even his fellow Republicans, saying that his proposal was not only contentious but is also very opposite to the values of the American people.
For Khan, the views of Trump aren't working the way he's envisioned it. In fact, it just increased the risk of provoking radical Islamist sentiments, which in turn could lead to extremists taking advantage of Muslims. In essence, a statement, much worse, a policy like that will put countries like the U.K. and the United States at more risks of terrorist attacks. "Donald Trump and those around him think that Western liberal values are incompatible with mainstream Islam – London has proved him wrong," the 45-year old Labour Party mayor said.