Father of Fallen Muslim Soldier, John McCain Rebuke Trump’s Anti-Muslim Comments

Father of fallen hero Capt. Humayun Khan denounces Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim comments.

It was a very moving moment at the Democratic National Convention when Khizr Khan, father of an American Muslim soldier killed in Iraq, waved his pocket edition of the American Constitution at Donald Trump, calling out, “You have sacrificed nothing and no one.”

Father of Fallen Muslim Soldier, John McCain Rebuke Trump’s Anti-Muslim Comments[/tweetthis]

Muslims across America have been uneasy ever since the presidential campaigns began. The rising Islamophobia in America has been seized as an opportunity by politicians, especially Donald Trump, to boost their campaigns.

Trump's controversial statement in December about banning Muslims has been received with mixed feelings by U.S. citizens. By his open opposition to Muslims, Trump is trying to garner the support of Americans who are suspicious of Muslims and see every Muslim as a terrorist. However, it is not just Trump who has made hateful statements. Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker called for deporting Muslims who believed in the Sharia law. Former Mayor of NYC, Rudi Giuliani suggested that Muslims must wear an electronic bracelet on their hands so that their whereabouts and actions can be carefully tracked.

If anything, the presidential campaigns have been taxing on the American Muslims' peace of mind as they are looking at a very uncertain future. Against such a background, Khizr Khan's challenge to Trump resonated with the voices of millions of Muslims across America who have been wanting to say what he did for a long time.

Khan's son, Humayun Khan served in the U.S. military and was killed in a suicide bombing in Iraq. Khizr fondly recalled his son's dedication to the U.S., even though the war he fought was in a Muslim country. During his speech, Khan demands from Trump to know why Muslims are looked at suspiciously when so many Muslims like his son have fought for the nation and even gave their lives. He goes on to ask Trump if he has ever seen the graves of the Arlington cemetery, where soldiers from all ethnic groups, genders and faiths lay buried together.

Coming out heavily on Trump's call for a ban on Muslims, Khan says that if Muslims were banned from the U.S., there wouldn't have been so many of them serving in the military, medical sector, education and others. As the crowd cheered Khan for his speech, he asked Trump if he had ever read the Constitution; and if not, he would be glad to lend him his own copy.

Never one to back down, Trump first responded that he had made a lot of sacrifices, worked very hard and had employed “thousands and thousands of people” in an interview with ABC News. He also suggested that Khan’s wife, Ghazala, may have been silent during Khan’s speech because their Muslim faith prohibited her from speaking. Ghazala said her husband asked her to speak, but she was too emotional.

Paul Rieckoff, founder and CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said that the comparison of Trump’s sacrifices with what Khan went through was “insulting, foolish and ignorant.” Arizona Senator and former Republican presidential candidate John McCain denounced Trump’s criticism in a 700-word statement.

"In recent days, Donald Trump disparaged a fallen soldier's parents. He has suggested that the likes of their son should not be allowed in the United States — to say nothing of entering its service. I cannot emphasize enough how deeply I disagree with Mr. Trump's statement. I hope Americans understand that the remarks do not represent the views of our Republican Party, its officers, or candidates."

McCain went on to say that though the Republican Party has nominated Trump, it doesn’t give him the license to defame “those who are the best among us.” He commended the Khans and the heroic act of their son. “I'd like to say to Mr. and Mrs. Khan: thank you for immigrating to America. We're a better country because of you. And you are certainly right; your son was the best of America, and the memory of his sacrifice will make us a better nation — and he will never be forgotten."

Khan's son, Captain Humayun Khan was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with a purple heart for his brave move which saved the lives of the men he supervised.

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