"Donald Trumps statement reflects a primitive stance and mindset in a country that upholds democracy, human rights, and plurality," Haedar Nashir, the general chairman of the organization, stated when contacted by ANTARA to comment on the issue here on Wednesday.
Nashir expressed shock over the presidential candidates extreme Islamophobia in a world that has evolved and where talks to boost inter-faith relations have become the norm.
He agreed that there were still a few conservative and radical Muslims similar to some followers of other faiths who used their religion as a pretext to commit violence.
"However it does not mean they have to be anti-Islamic in their approach. Trump represents the orthodox elite who live in a global era," he remarked.
Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, has called for a total ban on the entry of Muslims into the United States, the most provocative statement given by him so far.
Trumps statement was made after a mass shooting incident in South California and has drawn criticism from fellow candidates.
The mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, was carried out by Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik. Farook was born in the United States, while Tashfeen was born in Pakistan and came to the country from Saudi Arabia.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
