A day after United States President Barack Obama called for rejecting religious tests for admission into the country, leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump proposed a total shutdown of Muslims entering America.
However, the business tycoon turned White House aspirant's remarks were immediately ridiculed by his presidential rivals.
According to a statement issued by his campaign, Trump called for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on."
According to Pew Research, among others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population, his campaign said on Monday.
Most recently, a poll from the Centre for Security Policy released data showing "25 per cent of those polled agreed that violence against Americans here in the United States is justified as a part of the global jihad" and 51 per cent of those polled, "agreed" that Muslims in America should have the choice of being governed according to Shariah.
"Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine," Trump said in a statement.
"Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life," Trump said.
Trump was immediately slammed by other presidential candidates.
"You do not need to be banning Muslims from the country. That's, in my view, that's a ridiculous position and one that won't even be productive," New Jersey Governor, Chris
Christie, said. Christie a Republican presidential candidate is ranking low in a crowded GOP race.
Bernie Sanders, a leading Democratic candidate, criticised Trump for his statement. "Demagogues throughout our history have attempted to divide us based on race, gender, sexual orientation or country of origin," he said.
"Now, Trump and others want us to hate all Muslims. The US is a great nation when we stand together. We are a weak nation when we allow racism and xenophobia to divide us," Sanders said.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned Trump's policy statement by Trump "calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the US.
Image: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a forum in Washington. Photograph: Yuri Gripas/Reuters