US Prez retweets anti-muslim videos

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Wednesday retweeted three anti-muslim videos posted by the deputy leader of a British far-right group, a move which could potentially further aggravate Islamophobic sentiments in the United States.

Jayda Franson of the anti-immigrant Britain First posted the unverified videos by saying that they showed a Muslim gang beating a teenage boy to death, battering a boy on crutches and destroying a Christian statue. Her timeline has many similar videos, and her top “pinned” tweet is a video of her leading an anti-muslim march in Luton.

The US president retweeted the videos without comment. Soon afterwards, the official account of Britain First — which has about 24,000 followers — tweeted excitedly: “Donald Trump himself has retweeted these videos and has around 44 million followers! God bless you Trump!”

His actions came in for immediate criticism from all quarters.

A spokesperson for British Prime Minister Theresa May, in a statement said: “Britain First seeks to divide communities by their use of hateful narratives that peddle lies and stoke tensions. They cause anxiety to lawabiding people.

“British people overwhelmingly reject the prejudiced rhetoric of the far right which is the antithesis of the values this country represents, decency, tolerance and respect. It is wrong for the president to have done this.”

Brendan Cox, the widower of murdered MP Jo Cox — who was killed by a far-right terrorist shouting “Britain first” — accused Trump of spreading hatred and trying to legitimise the right-wing in the UK.

Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, said: “These are actions one would expect to see on virulent antiMuslim hate sites, not on the Twitter feed of the president of the United States.

“Trump’s posts amount to incitement to violence against American Muslims. His actions should be condemned by all American political and religious leaders, regardless of their party or faith.”