Ben Carson: Syrian Refugees Should Be Banned from Entering America

Ben Carson, one of the Republican candidates for the U.S. presidential election, stated on Friday, October 1, that the entry of Syrian refugees into the U.S. should be banned because many jihadists have infiltrated among them, and their goal is to harm America. The Associated Press reminds that Carson has taken a very harsh stance against Muslims in his recent speeches. The day before, Donald Trump, who currently enjoys greater popularity than other Republican candidates, announced his support for the policy of expelling and returning Syrian refugees. In his remarks on Friday, Carson said, 'Bringing people to this country who have jihadists among them does not make sense.' Carson suggested that instead of accepting Syrian refugees, the U.S. government should help resettle them in Middle Eastern countries like Turkey. According to Carson, the U.S. government can provide financial assistance to solve the Syrian refugee problem but should not open its doors to them. Carson's statements are similar to those of another Republican candidate, Donald Trump, who said on Thursday, 'If I win the presidential election, I will return Syrian refugees to their country.' Carson's position in the competition with other Republican candidates has improved in recent days, and he is now alongside Trump at the top. Reports indicate that he has raised a significant amount of $20 million for his campaign in the last quarter of the year. According to the Associated Press, Carson continued his attacks on the American Muslim community by calling for the revocation of the tax-exempt status of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. This organization demanded his withdrawal from the election campaign last month after Carson stated that Muslims cannot become presidents in America. Carson later clarified that he meant radical Muslims who do not believe in the U.S. Constitution. In another interview on Thursday, he stated that the same ban should apply to membership in the Supreme Court. Carson has always warned the U.S. government about the potential connection between Syrian refugees and extremist jihadist groups, but in his remarks on Friday, he went beyond these warnings. Some Republicans are concerned that such harsh statements may weaken the electoral future of the party, which needs to gain more votes from minorities. However, Carson's advisors have explicitly stated that these types of stances have elicited a positive reaction from a segment of Republican voters and increased support for him.