NEW YORK: Republican presidential candidate Dr Ben Carson has said that he will not support a Muslim as president of the United States.

Appearing on a talk show on Sunday, he said, “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that.” He also said that Islam, as a religion, was incompatible with the Constitution.

Dr Carson who is polling near the top of several early presidential polls, said a president’s faith should matter depending on what that faith was. “If it’s inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter,” he added.

Carson’s comments come days after another Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, who is being criticised for not challenging a questioner about Muslims being a threat while calling President Obama a foreign-born Muslim at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire.

Dr Carson said he had “no reason to doubt” that President Obama was born in the United States and was a Christian.

Many times in the past, Trump has questioned Obama’s birthplace and American citizenship.

On “The Sunday talk show,” Mr Trump was asked if he was comfortable with a Muslim being president. He responded, “It’s something that at some point could happen.”

The real estate mogul continued, “Would I be comfortable? I don’t know if we have to address it right now.”

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2015

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