LONDON: Muslim Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Sunday termed United States President Donald Trump’s ban on refugees and immigrants from seven countries a shameful and cruel act and reminded him that the United States had a proud history of welcoming and resettling refugees.
The London mayor in a statement released on Sunday slammed Trump’s controversial policy which blocks entry of refugees and immigrants from seven Muslim countries to US.
The US president’s executive order banned Syrian refugees indefinitely and travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia coming to the US for 90 days.
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“While every country has the right to set its own immigration policies, this new policy flies in the face of the values of freedom and tolerance that the USA was built upon,” said Sadiq Khan.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered her foreign and home secretaries to raise the issue, of Donald Trump’s ban on people from seven Muslim countries, with their US counterparts.
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Khan said: “I’m pleased that the Prime Minister (Theresa May) has now said she and the government do not agree with President Trump’s policy, which will affect many British citizens who have dual nationality, including Londoners born in countries affected by the ban.
“I will work with the government on behalf of Londoners affected.
President Trump’s ban on refugees and immigrants from certain countries is shameful and cruel. https://t.co/ZuMaVoSq8p pic.twitter.com/USOymj8HUO
— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) January 29, 2017
“As a nation that, like the USA, values tolerance, diversity and freedom, we cannot just shrug our shoulders and say: ‘It’s not our problem’.”