Petition calls for Trump UK ban

December 9, 2015

A petition reached over 300,000 signatures today urging Donald Trump, considered the front runner to become the 's candidate for President of the, be banned from entering the. This follows Mr Trump's comments that should be blocked from entering the US.



Also, 's First Minister,, removed Trump from his role as business ambassador for Scotland.

On Monday, Mr Trump said he wants a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the US" until the country can understand "what the hell is going on" with regard to terrorism. He said in a statement that a large number of Muslims show "great hatred towards Americans".

Trump's comments on Monday came days after a shooting in, by Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik, in which fourteen people were killed. US President said in an address from the  on Sunday the attack was an act of terrorism.

Donald Trump's statement has been widely criticised, including by members of his own political party. Republican said the policy is a "bad idea" and Speaker of the  Paul Ryan said "this is not Conservatism".

candidate for President Hillary Clinton described Trump's comments as "shameful". Secretary of State John Kerry argued Trump's statement would not help in the ongoing fight against Islamic State (IS), saying his remarks were "not constructive".

Trump argued that his policy idea is "no different" to that of former President policy which saw large-scale confinement of Japanese US citizens in internment camps following Japan's attacks on  in 1941. Mr Trump also said the policy should not be implemented on Muslims currently living within the US.

Kassem Allie from the, accused Trump of evoking fear "reminiscent of and ". expressed concern Trump's demands could be counterproductive in the fight against IS, saying it "bolsters Isil's narrative".

Mr Trump also said on Tuesday that police in London are "afraid for their lives" in some areas because of radicalisation in the city. These comments were rebuffed by the United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron who said Trump was "simply wrong" and Mayor of London Boris Johnson said the claim was "ridiculous".