World leaders’ uproar over Trump immigration move

Washington DC, Monday

Several world leaders and governments have hit out at the immigration restrictions imposed by US President Donald Trump. Here are some of the top reactions.

Britain

Downing Street said Prime Minister Theresa May does “not agree” with the restrictions. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted Britain “will protect the rights and freedoms of UK nationals home and abroad. Divisive and wrong to stigmatise because of nationality.”

European Union

European Union foreign policy supremo Federica Mogherini pledged the bloc would “continue to support, welcome and take care of those who flee from war”.

Canada

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not directly criticise Trump but said on his official Twitter account: “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.”

Iran

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed Trump’s move as “a clear insult to the Islamic world” and said it “will be recorded in history as a great gift to extremists”.

Zarif said Trump’s decision “only serves to provide a fertile ground for more terrorist recruitment by deepening the ruptures and fault-lines which have been exploited by extremist demagogues to swell their ranks”.

Germany

Angela Merkel’s spokesman said the German chancellor “regrets the entry ban” and “is convinced that even in the necessarily resolute battle against terrorism, it is not justified to place people from a certain origin or belief under general suspicion”.

Indonesia

Indonesia “deeply regrets” the move “because we believe it would affect the global fight against terrorism,” foreign ministry spokesman Arrmanatha Nasir told AFP.

France

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said: “Welcoming refugees who are fleeing war is part of our duty.” “We must... ensure that this happens in a fair, just way and with solidarity ... This decision can only cause us concern.”

Sweden

Swedish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Margot Wallstrom called the decision “deeply unfortunate”.

Switzerland

Trump’s decision is “wrong”, Swiss Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Burkhalter said. “We have always been opposed to discrimination against human beings on the basis of religion or nationality,” he said.

The Netherlands

Dutch PM Mark Rutte said refugees fleeing war and violence “deserve a safe haven, regardless of their ethnicity or religion”.

Czech Republic

Going against the grain of global condemnation, a spokesman for Czech President Milos Zeman came out in favour of the ban. “US President Trump protects his country, he’s concerned with the safety of his citizens. Exactly what EU elites do not do,” Jiri Ovcacek said.

Poland

Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski refused to condemn the ban, saying: “it’s the right of every sovereign state to determine its own immigration policy. No country currently has the obligation to welcome immigrants.” —AFP

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