On January 27, US President Donald J Trump signed two orders: authorizing the construction of a wall on the US-Mexico border and banning visas to the US to nationals from seven countries: Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, which are all Muslim-majority nations. During the run-up to the November 8 election, Trump promised to ban Muslims from entering the US. He also promised to build a wall along the Mexican border to deter Mexicans from traveling to America. Trump also indicated that both Pakistan and Afghanistan will be among the countries whose citizens will have to go through an “extreme vetting” process before entering the US. In his inaugural speech, Trump pledged to “eradicate from the face of the Earth” Islamic terrorism. He believes that his predecessor Barack Obama and secretaries of state Hillary Clinton and John Kerry had allowed tens of thousands of people to enter the country.
Reports say that the Trump administration would establish a registry for collecting data about Muslims living in the US brought thousands of protesters out in a New York park on Wednesday night and a former secretary of state said she too would register as a Muslim if Muslims were asked to do so.
Madeleine Albright, the first woman US secretary of state, tweeted: “I was raised Catholic, became Episcopalian and found out later my family was Jewish. I stand ready to register as Muslim in solidarity.” Her message was re-tweeted by about 20,000 people and liked by almost 40,000.
The ban on refugees and immigrants triggered a strong reaction and protests have been held in cities across the United States. In the US capital, thousands, reportedly, gathered outside the White House, while more than 1,000 protesters assembled in New York City’s Battery Park to demonstrate against Trump’s executive order.
British Prime Minister Theresa May is said to disagree with Trump’s order and will challenge the US government if it has an adverse effect on British nationals. Moreover, German Chancellor Angela Merkel also regretted the travel ban. “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,” her spokesman is cited as saying.
As was reported not too long after white supremacist Dylann Roof killed nine black Americans in Charleston, white Americans cause the largest numbers of American deaths by terrorist acts on US soil. Yet unsurprisingly, Trump has not signed any executive orders specifically targeting white Americans.
In addition, Muslims face with challenges in public places in the US on the grounds of their race and religion following the spread of Islamophobia by terrorist groups and harsh rhetoric against Muslims. As a result, Robin Rhodes, 57-year-old man was accused of assaulting Rabeeya Khan, who was wearing a head scarf, while working at Delta Airlines’ Sky Lounge on Wednesday evening. “He punched the door, which struck Khan’s chair, and then he threatened her and kicked her in the right leg”. A statement quoted him as, “Trump is here now. He will get rid of all of you.”
It should be noted that Muslims bear the brunt of terrorist attacks and the radical ideology of fundamental groups can never ever represent Muslims or Islamic view. The terrorist fighters are believed to be pawn used in big political games. In other words, all the militant fighters are not ideologue but also mercenary fighters – a bunch of irreligious/anti-religious fighters who enjoy harming others and evil runs in their blood.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – which was endorsed following the World War II to reduce the pains and sufferings of mankind and put an end to violence and carnage – states, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” The natural and inviolable rights and dignity of mankind is globally confessed and no one is supposed to violate one’s rights on the basis of their race, color or religion. When a member of the Black is insulted or harmed in the US due to their color, one’s conscience will be outraged in Afghanistan and we expect vice versa. That is to say, we live in “the global village” and affected by the sorrow and happiness of a group. Therefore, a strong will and intention against terrorist networks will be appreciated by every country, especially Afghanistan which is one of the greatest victims in Asia, but spreading hatred against Muslims is beyond the tolerance of the public. It would be a matter of great concern to see that Muslims pay sacrifices from both sides.
The human societies will have to accept one another and practice upon the UDHR and extend the spirit of brotherhood. Degrading a nation or violating the rights and freedoms of a group will be counterproductive and lead to horrible consequences. Terrorist networks must not be able to divide the world through stoking racial and ideological tensions. The world should join forces to combat terrorism and eradicate their sanctuaries so as to bring global and long-lasting peace and stability. All nations seek peace and it is possible via being an iron-fist against terrorism and accepting one another.