UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations chief called upon US President Donald Trump on Wednesday to lift his ban on travellers from seven Muslim countries “as soon as possible”.

Antonio Gueterres, the UN secretary general, said in a statement that every country had the right to avoid infiltration of terrorists, but not based on discrimination related to religion, ethnicity, or a person’s nationality.

The UN chief warned that “blind measures not based on solid intelligence tend to be ineffective as they risk being bypassed by what are today sophisticated global terrorist movements.

He also said such discrimination was against “fundamental principles and values” and “triggers widespread anxiety and anger” that may spur extremist propaganda.

Guterres expressed concern that refugees fleeing conflict and persecution are finding more borders closing, in violation of the protection they are entitled to under international refugee law.

Published in Dawn February 2nd, 2017