Trump’s call to ban Muslims in the US is grossly irresponsible, says UN rights chief
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said that ‘at the very least’, people running for office should be aware that innocent people will suffer even more if dangerous rhetoric replaces rational conversation.
United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Tuesday said Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s call to ban all Muslims from entering the United States was grossly irresponsible. Such statements, Zeid said, play right into the hands of the Islamic State. He added that extremist groups see a vast majority of ordinary Muslims as “eligible targets” and comments like these will only make matters worse. Slamming trump, Zeid said that he expected “at the very least…people who are running for office will know enough of historical experience and the suffering of those who are going to fall in the crossfire if this escalation in rhetoric and passion eclipses calm and rational thinking about this (sic),” Reuters reported.
Earlier on Tuesday, The United Nations refugee agency said the campaign rhetoric in the United States was hampering plans to resettle thousands of of people who are desperately trying to flee wars in Syria and other countries . Donald Trump, on Monday, had said that all Muslims, including those coming in as students, visitors, immigrants and tourists should be stopped from entering the US. Trump’s words came as a response to the San Bernadino shootings, in which a Muslim couple killed 14 people at a social service agency last week. His words have been widely criticised, even by other members of the Republican party, but Trump has staunchly maintained his stand.