London’s New Mayor Criticizes Trump's 'Ignorant' View of Islam
Mr. Khan, who is the city's first Muslim mayor, has brushed aside the US presidential hopeful's suggestion that he would exempt him from his proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States.
The Republican presidential hopeful told the New York Times that he was happy to see Mr. Khan elected, saying it could be "very, very good".
However the new mayor has hit back.
"This isn't just about me - it's about my friends, my family and everyone who comes from a background similar to mine, anywhere in the world," he said.
Mr. Khan added: "Donald Trump's ignorant view of Islam could make both of our countries less safe - it risks alienating mainstream Muslims around the world and plays into the hands of extremists.
"Donald Trump and those around him think that Western liberal values are incompatible with mainstream Islam - London has proved him wrong."
Mr. Trump has vowed a "total and complete” temporary shutdown of America’s borders to Muslims following last December’s deadly attack in San Bernardino by a husband and wife team who swore loyalty to swearing loyalty to Daesh (ISIL).
The Republican candidate has stuck rigidly to his proposed ban despite an international outcry and an online petition, debated in Parliamentafter attracting more than half-a-million signatures, calling for Mr. Trump to be barred from the UK in response.
When asked by the New York Times how his proposed ban on Muslims would apply to Mr. Khan, Mr. Trump said: "There will always be exceptions."
Despite his outspoken views on Muslims, he insisted he was pleased to see Mr. Khan elected as the British capital's first Muslim mayor.
"I was happy to see that. I think it's a very good thing, and I hope he does a very good job because, frankly, that would be very, very good."
"Because I think if he does a great job, it will really - you lead by example, always lead by example. If he does a good job, and frankly if he does a great job, that would be a terrific thing."
Mr. Khan, 45, who stood down as Labour MP for Tooting on Monday, had earlier said he was making contingency plans for an early visit to the US before Mr. Trump could take office, in the event of him winning November’s presidential election.
"Clearly [I’ll visit] before January in case Donald Trump wins,” he told Time magazine. "If Donald Trump becomes the president I’ll be stopped from going there by virtue of my faith, which means I can’t engage with American mayors and swap ideas.”
Mr. Khan suggested that a trip to the US could include visits to New York and Chicago, whose Democratic mayors, Bill de Blasio and Rahm Emanuel, he praised.
"I think Bill de Blasio is doing interesting housing stuff in New York, Rahm Emanuel is doing interesting stuff with the infrastructure bank in Chicago,” he said.
Source: The Telegraph
