Trump Muslim Ban – 11 Muslim Men Respond

I have spoken to 11 Muslim men – from Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and UAE – about the Trump Muslim Ban.

The president’s executive order forbids all refugees (most of whom at this point in history are Muslim) from entering the United States for three months from the date the order was signed on January 27, 2017. In addition, people from Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Somalia, Sudan and Libya, all Muslim majority countries, are barred from entry into the U.S. indefinitely.

Here is what 11 Muslim men have to say about the Trump Muslim Ban.

Mr. President, please check the values, concepts, logos of democracy, human rights, etc., paved by the founding fathers of the great United States of America before you make any decision. Everyone must know that East needs West and West needs East.

Cooperation and mutual respect must be the logo of relations between countries. Not the policy of walls. Banning of entries based on country of origin or religion is a big mistake which will increase hatred among nations.

If the current American administration approves of and continues to implement the presidential executive order, the immediate future will not be promising for other nationalities and people of other faiths. I am not only talking about Muslims.

So be careful. Let’s see what happens and who will win – the values and principles of he founding fathers or someone with a real nasty advisor?  Majdi Kohof – Amman, Jordan

I would like to tell my Muslim brothers and sisters to be patient. Imam Ali A.S. said: “Acquire patience and endurance because their relation with true faith is that of a head to a body. A body is of no use without a head. Similarly, true faith can be of no use without attributes of resignation, endurance, and patience.”

I think Mr. Trump is unaware of the process that refugees go through. I think his executive order was just a show for his supporters, to tell them “Here, I’m banning Muslims from entering our country.” But here’s a surprising fact: How could he turn a blind eye to Saudi Arabia? He always talked about 9/11. How can we trust his judgement? It’s like telling him this is an apple (which is in fact an apple) but he insists it’s an orange. Khairuldeen Makhzoomi – Iraqi refugee – Baghdad, Iraq

I think Trump is a demagogue who panders to racists and bigots, so he’s just doing what he promised he will do. He’s the USA’s Netanyahu. Not surprised by it, but I hope the American people will be able to overturn it eventually, whether by protest or by electing someone else in 4 years. Omar – Beirut, Lebanon

My cousin is an american, he landed in Texas and they held him for questioning and went through his phone and private photos at the airport😂

— dad bod omar (@MelancholicOmar) January 30, 2017

By implementing this Muslim ban you will open up not only racism, but war between Islam and other religions. Anonymous – Yemen

There is a common saying in Arabic as well as Hebrew. In both languages the saying has the same meaning:
In Arabic:  حب لغيرك ما تحب لنفسك
In Hebrew:  ואהבת לרעך כמוך
The non-literal translation means treat others well, the way you want them to treat you in turn, or love others the way you want them to love you back. Anonymous – Israeli Arab originally from Syria

If I was president of one of the countries that was banned from traveling to the U.S. by D. Trump, I would never beg for him to change his decision. I would say it would not honor me to come to a country in which you are the president.

It is his right, I believe, but who can say the word to him is the people of the United States of America, not us!   Muhammad al Salman – Wadi Musa, Jordan

Muslims have to cleanse themselves from ideas which push them to be terrorists. I think Trump will fight the terrorists and people who support them. The Muslim people will pay a high price because we can’t go against what it states in our traditional books. But we must find a new understanding about what we have been learning all our lives.  Hemaid Gimih, Egypt

As told to Sabina Lohr, creator of Connect the Cultures