Trump's Muslim Ban Is A Victory For ISIS
By April Kirstin Chua | Jan 31, 2017 11:00 AM EST
U.S. President Donald Trump might have just given his enemies a symbolic victory when he signed last week an executive order that bans: refugees for 120 days, all immigrants and visa holders from seven Muslim-majority countries, and Syrian refugees to enter the United States. It was implemented to protect Americans until an extreme vetting procedure can be made that will ensure security to prevent situations, like the 9/11 attacks, to happen. However, experts say that if such was the intention of the order, it definitely lacked logic.
According to Huffington Post, the ban didn't include the countries of origins of all terrorists who attacked the U.S. over the years such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia UAE, Turkey, and Lebanon. It isn't hard to figure why especially if one has been following Trump's business dealings since time immemorial. Ultimately, the ban isn't about security and protective measures but a Muslim ban and ISIS has used the idea to propagate that U.S. is waging an all-out war against Islam. Bush and Obama's administrations were very careful not to mix up "war on terror" with a war with Islam but Trump's team has put this at the center of their campaign.
In his official Facebook page, Trump vehemently denied the Muslim ban and claimed that the executive order is not about religion but terror and keeping America safe. While the majority of the people expressed disappointment over Trump's actions, ISIS supporters can't help but rejoice and called it a "blessed ban." According to them, they saw the fulfillment of a prophecy declared by American native al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki. He predicted that America would turn against its Muslim citizens, which is actually what is happening at present.
The goal of ISIS is to stage terror attacks in the West to incite Islamophobia and create a hostile environment for Muslims, hence, forcing them to join the Islamic State. Former jihadi Abu Abdullah told CNN, over a messaging service, that the travel ban will be used by ISIS as a recruitment tool and "it can play into their propaganda, to make it clear for anyone who could be in doubt, that it's a war on Islam and all Muslims." Another jihadi noted the ban is exactly what ISIS wants. Republicans and national security experts can't help but agree on ISIS' victory saying that Trump's actions give credence to a popular notion that Americans are Islamophobic.
Indeed, Trump has turned his back on the people who are considered to be important allies in the fight against ISIS. The full effects of the Muslim ban are yet to be seen, whether or not it will protect Americans, it surely did outcast Muslims and Trump just did ISIS a favor in boosting its recruitment efforts.