Entry ban could be exploited by IS

THE whole world was engulfed in shock and anger last Friday when Donald J. Trump, who just a week before was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, signed an executive order banning citizens from seven Muslim countries – Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen – as well as refugees from entering America for a certain period.

Apparently, Trump signed the order without adequately preparing his government agencies for the change. The result was chaos in major airports in the US, stranding an unknown number of American visa holders abroad and throwing hundreds of thousands of permanent US residents into legal limbo.

Though Trump gave the excuse that this decision was to protect American safety and prevent terrorists from penetrating his country, many are seeing this as a highly bigoted and discriminating act especially towards Muslims.

Actions like this would also increase the level of Islamophobia all over the world. This is not the way to tear down years of fear and prejudice towards Muslims by the West especially after the tragedy of 9/11. This is not the way to build bridges of trust and tolerance with Muslims all over the world.

Trump must realise that even if his action only focuses on seven countries, the effects would also be felt by nearly two billion Muslims all over the world. It will also jeopardize the ongoing fight against terrorism, especially efforts to quash the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Since this militant group rose to prominence five years ago, it has misused Islam as a shield to spread violence and create its own version of an Islamic caliphate. Many Muslims have been slaughtered or suffered persecution since they came to power.

Trump’s ban would spur this militant group’s efforts to spread their false ideology as it has, in the past, told Muslims all over the world, and especially in the territories they hold, that America will not come to save them.

Shutting America’s door to refugees will also increase the burden of other countries which have already received huge numbers of them over the past years.

America has been a partner to global peace and a strong advocate in combating terror for a long time. As such, Trump must adopt more realistic strategies.