[ad_1]

“The necessary, decisive battle against terrorism does not justify a general suspicion against people of a certain origin or a certain religion,” a spokesperson for Angela Merkel said.

World leaders have criticized US president Donald Trump’s executive orders to restrict visas and refugees, with Germany’s Angela Merkel labelling it unjustified.

Sean Gallup / Getty Images

A spokesperson, who confirmed that Merkel and Trump had spoken over the phone Saturday, said: “She is convinced that the necessary, decisive battle against terrorism does not justify a general suspicion against people of a certain origin or a certain religion.

“The Geneva Refugee Convention requires the international community take in war refugees on humanitarian grounds. All signatory states are obligated to do so.

“The Chancellor explained this policy to the US President in their call yesterday,” the spokesperson continued. “The German government will now examine what consequences the measure will have for German citizens with double citizenship and will represent their interests, if necessary, before our American partners.”

France’s President, Francois Hollande, said Trump’s rhetoric was encouraging “popularism and even extremism”. He described the refugee ban as a “dead-end response”.

“We have to stand together in Europe,” Hollande said during a meeting of southern European leaders in Lisbon, Sunday.

“Faced with an unstable and uncertain world, withdrawal into oneself is a dead-end response,” Hollande reportedly told Trump over the phone Saturday, according to a statement from the Elysee Palace. Similar to Merkel, Hollande went on to say that protecting democratic principles meant also operating within the “the principles on which it is founded, in particular the acceptance of refugees”.

Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Turkey’s PM Binali Yildirim said during a press conference with his British counterpart Theresa May that closing the door on refugees “cannot solve” regional issues.

May came under heavy criticism for her initial refusal to criticise the US president's actions in the same press conference.

Later on Saturday, Downing Street abruptly released a statement promising help to those dual-citizens trapped by the order, and saying she did “not agree” with Trump's policy.

Adem Altan / AFP / Getty Images

---

View Entire List ›

[ad_2]