The office of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu says the order by the US President, Donald Trump, banning immigrants from seven Muslim countries is not a warrant for Muslims to embark on terrorism.
The Public Affairs Director of the Office, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, said “there is no justification for any Muslim to embark on terrorism over the ban because US is not Mecca”.
“If Mecca is where they say they will not allow you to go, that is fine, you can protest”, he added.
He emphasized, “it should not give justification to bring chaos. If he says he will not allow you there, America is not a Mecca for Muslims so stay in your countries”.
President Trump’s visa ban, which was blocked, last Saturday by a Federal Court in the UA sparked concerns among Muslims and travel groups.
Two Iraqis, one who worked for the US Army and another for a US contractor, filed the lawsuit in US District Court challenging the order after they were denied entry on Friday at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Judge Ann Donnelly blocked the order late Saturday and told government officials not to remove holders of immigrant and non-immigrant visas from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Speaking on the issue on Onua FM’s Yen Sempa hosted by Bright Asempa on Tuesday, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu explained that “if you regard all Muslims as terrorists and murderers and as such you want to ban them, it will stick onto their heads and they will start to react”.
He wondered, “How many of the countries he has banned back ISIS? What has Iran done to deserve the ban? Terrorism population does not form even 1% of the world population so if you stand on this to judge the world, it means you don’t understand the issue”.
Impact of the ban
Sheikh Shaibu said “his [Trump] speech gave hope to the world but such decision means he does not understand the world terrorism, because it can affect the world in the areas such as trade and international diplomacy. There will be poverty and famine because the US supports most countries with aid”.
Way forward
The Chief Imam’s PRO said “there should be a dialogue and understanding among the leaders of these countries. He [Trump] should have to meet all the world Muslims leaders in the ban and deliberate on the issue”.
He said “we can find the short, medium and long term solutions to the problem and that would help because no one would think that the US hates Muslims”.
Sheikh Shaibu said meeting with the Muslim leader on the ban “would alleviate the thinking that the USA would want to eliminate Muslims”.
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|Onua 95.1FM|3news.com