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Merkel Attacks Trump: Muslim Ban ‘Not Justified’ by War on Terror

Merkel Attacks Trump: Muslim Ban ‘Not Justified’ by War on Terror
folder_openGermany access_time7 years ago
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized US President Donald Trump's ban on some Muslim immigration, saying it is "not justified to put people from a specific background or faith under general suspicion" to combat terrorism.

Merkel Attacks Trump: Muslim Ban ‘Not Justified’ by War on Terror

A spokesman for Merkel said the German leader believes the travel ban is wrong.

Spokesman Steffen Seibert said: "The Chancellor regrets the US government's entry ban against refugees and citizens of certain countries.

"She is convinced that even the necessary, resolute fight against terrorism doesn't justify putting people of a particular origin or particular faith under general suspicion."

Citing Merkel, Seibert added: "The Geneva Refugee Convention requires the international community to take in refugees from war on humanitarian grounds. All signatory states are expected to do so. The Chancellor explained this policy to the US President in their call yesterday."

"The German government will now examine what consequences the measure of the US government will have for German citizens with double citizenship and will represent their interests, if necessary, before our American partners."

Merkel and Trump spoke by phone on Saturday for the first time since his inauguration.

The President signed an executive order on Friday temporarily banning travelers from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen from entry into the US.

In contrast, the German Chancellor welcomed more than a million refugees into the country, many fleeing war-torn Syria.

The policy has been praised by many, but Trump referred to it as a "catastrophic mistake".

It has also caused significant internal political difficulties, with right-wing populist parties such as Alternative für Deutschland [AfD] gaining ground in the last year.

A statement released after Saturday's call did not mention Trump's immigration policy but highlighted areas of common interest and stressed the importance of ties between the United States and Europe's largest economy.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team

 

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