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A petition calling for U.S. presidential hopeful Donald Trump to be banned from entering the United Kingdom has gathered over 150,000 signatures.
The petition comes as Trump continues to attract international condemnation for Islamophobic comments he made on Monday, when he called for a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims entering the United States.
“The U.K. has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech. The same principles should apply to everyone who wishes to enter the U.K.,” the country’s government and parliament petition website reads.
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Our country is facing a major threat from radical Islamic terrorism. We better get very smart, and very tough, FAST, before it is too late!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
December 9, 2015
Under British law, it is necessary for the government to respond to all petitions that gather more than 10,000 signatures. Petitions that gather more than 100,000 are considered for debate in parliament.
The White House, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn and even Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling have all released statements condemning Trump for his comments.
Wow, what a day. So many foolish people that refuse to acknowledge the tremendous danger and uncertainty of certain people coming into U.S.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
December 9, 2015
"The fact is what Donald Trump said yesterday disqualifies him from serving as president," White House press secretary Josh Earnest told a group of journalists. According to Earnest, Trump’s rhetoric contradicts the principles of the U.S. Constitution.
In the U.K., Cameron branded Trump’s comments “divisive” and “unhelpful,” while Corbyn branded them “an attack on democratic values” and an “affront to common humanity.”
Trump’s remarks were also slammed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, whose leader Nihad Awad compared Donald Trump to a “leader of a lynch mob.”
How horrible. Voldemort was nowhere near as bad. https://t.co/hFO0XmOpPH
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling)
December 8, 2015
On Tuesday, Dubai’s Landmark Group announced that it will no longer stock Trump products in all 195 of its stores across the Middle East.
“In light of the recent statements made by the presidential candidate in the U.S. media, we have suspended sale of all products from the Trump Home décor range,” the Arabian Business reported Lifestyle CEO Sachin Mundhwa to have said.
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It is not the first time Trump has drawn widespread criticism for discriminatory and racist remarks during his presidential race. He has previously described Mexican migrants as disease-ridden “rapists.” Earlier this month, Trump was also accused of propagating anti-Semitic stereotypes after a speech he gave to the Republican Jewish Coalition.
In the past, Trump has been accused of claiming “laziness is a trait in Blacks,” and lashing out at Chinese people by claiming they “created” the “concept” of global warming to undermine U.S. industry.
