When Donald Trump began his bid for the Republican Party nomination we thought it was funny as he was a businessman widely known as the host of the American version of The Apprentice and not a traditional politician. His views were so extreme even Republicans did not support him so it wouldn’t be long before he was out of the race. When he was selected we had to actually think about his views; build a wall on the Mexican border and ban Muslims from entering the USA were two of his more extreme, sensational ideas which were almost universally condemned. As well as this was the fact of a nominee known for his unapologetic misogynistic views where he viewed boasting about sexual assault as ‘locker room banter’, something which alone could finish the career of most prospective politicians.
Shockwaves hit the world the morning after his election as US President and his first few days rather than being a gentle transition have instead inspired outrage and fear. Protests greeted the dismantling of former President Obama’s healthcare system, escalated with the go ahead for the Keystone XL and Dakota access pipelines and Mexican border wall and have now reached massive proportions with the so-called ‘Muslim ban’.
The key points of President Trump’s order are a cap on the number of refugees accepted by the US, a 120 day suspension of the US Refugee Admissions Programme, an indefinite ban on Syrian refugees, a 90-day suspension on anyone arriving from seven Muslim-majority countries – Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen and a suspension of the Visa Interview Waiver Program
Where religious discrimination comes into it is with priority being given to religious minorities facing persecution in their countries, for example Christians from Syria as stated by President Trump. It is sad that the whole religion of Islam seems to be held responsible for ideas and acts carried out by a tiny minority of its members, especially when the bulk of the terrorism in these countries is actually carried out against other Muslims.
It is a fact that the banned countries include those where the US has been at war or sent arms to bomb the country; now fleeing refugees are being denied safety. In addition countries excluded just happen to be those where President Trump has business interests despite the fact that nationals from those countries have killed on US soil. One reason President Trump gave for the ban was so terrorists from those countries would not murder Americans on US soil; in actual fact in the last forty years no American has been killed by refugees from any of the banned countries.
The first day of the ban saw not only refugees but those whose lengthy immigration procedures had been approved as well as valid US Green Card holders denied at their port of entry. International airports across the US were full with people protesting these measures while lawsuits were begun to counter them.
Reaction has been swift from around the world with many leaders immediately condemning it. Sadly UK Prime Minister Theresa May, who was in the US for a meeting with President Trump has been slow in her condemnation instead being photographed hand-in-hand with the President. After many calls for a reaction she stated that it was up to the US to decide its policy on refugees followed by a statement saying she did not agree with this kind of approach and that she would make representations to the US government if UK nationals were affected. A worried Somali-born Sir Mo Farrah can rest easy then although as a British national he has a safe country to return to unlike those from the banned countries. After memories of Margaret Thatcher’s ‘special relationship’ with President Reagan and Tony Blair being derided as President Bush’s poodle, it has left Mrs May being referred to on social media as “Theresa The Appeaser” in a reference to Chamberlain and Hitler before World War Two.
What can we expect next from America, a land where many of us have Muslim friends and family? Memories of Japanese internment come to mind when Americans of Japanese descent were taken from their homes and interned in camps during the Second World War. Shocking to think that this happened only a few decades ago but even more shocking to think it could happen once more with Muslims; after all President Trump has proposed a Muslim registry in the US which is another step in the direction of ostracising Muslims.
As Muslims we are taught to obey the law of the land and its ruler however much we dislike him and however much of a tyrant he is. However while we should never act to the detriment of our country as citizens of this world it is important we also make our voices heard when wrongs are carried out otherwise atrocities, for example such as those carried out against Jews with the rise of Nazism, will all too easily occur once more. In the case of the so-called Muslim ban it may be our friends, our family members as well as many other innocent Muslims who feel the effects.
As I write President Trump is scheduled to visit the UK and calls are growing to ban him either from visiting or at least from addressing both Houses of Parliament. I say while he has done enough as a President to be afforded the honour of addressing the Houses he should visit the UK and maybe he will realise the extent of opposition to his policies when people raise their voices in peaceful protest.
It is wise to remember the words of parliamentarian Edmund Burke who once stated, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
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