Merkel Attacks Trump for Targeting 'People from Specific Background or Faith'

TEHRAN (IQNA) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized US President Donald Trump's ban on some Muslim immigration, saying it is "not justified to put people from a specific background or faith under general suspicion" to combat terrorism.

A spokesman for Merkel said she believes the travel ban is wrong.

Germany's DPA news agency quoted Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert as saying: "She is convinced that even the necessary, resolute fight against terrorism doesn't justify putting people of a particular origin or particular faith under general suspicion".

Merkel and Trump spoke by phone on Saturday for the first time since his inauguration.

The German Chancellor has welcomed more than a million refugees into the country, many fleeing war torn Syria. 

The policy has been praised by many but also caused significant internal political difficulties, with right-wing populist parties such as Alternative for Germany (AfD) gaining ground in the last year.

Source: The Independent