Boxing News 2015: Muhammad Ali Fires Back at Donald Trump
Presidential aspirant Donald Trump may say he's friends with boxing legend Muhammad Ali; but his recent statement about his suggestion of banning Muslims in America prompted the Islamic faith believer to fire back and condemn the Republican front-runner.
The businessman turned politician seems to be enjoying getting the ire of several people these days, including his fellow presidential hopefuls, and his latest statement couldn't be more controversial.
It's no secret that Ali is one of the world's most recognizable Muslim figures, and his response to Trump's call to ban Muslims in entering the United States is something that goes natural for any individual who values his religion as an instrument of peace. Although he didn't explicitly mention Trump's name, he took jabs on those people who mischaracterize Islam for the purpose of personal gain.
Once a polarizing figure himself, Ali made the statement on NBC news, saying that his religion is being unfairly dragged into a political agenda. "We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda. They have alienated many from the learning about Islam. True Muslims know or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anybody," he said.
Also, Ali disavowed the recent terrorist attacks in both Paris and San Bernardino in California, both of which were linked to ISIS. "I am a Muslim and there is nothing Islamic about killing innocent people… true Muslims know that the ruthless violence of so-called Islamic Jihadists goes against the very tenets of our religion," he added.
Trump for this part thought about getting more support and popularity by fueling the growing anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States, but he certainly took it a little too far by saying that foreign Muslims should not be allowed to travel to the country.
It should be interesting to see how the billionaire Trump will respond to Ali's criticism.