Nihad Awad: Ben Carson’s 2016 Campaign Should End Over No Muslim President Comment

According to CAIR president Nihad Awad, Ben Carson’s 2016 presidential campaign hopes should end right now. The Republican candidate has specifically said he “would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation,” and because of this, Awad claims Carson is “unfit to lead” America.

In a related report by the Inquisitr, Bernie Sanders has denounced Ben Carson’s Muslim president comment, claiming that he was “very disappointed” in the GOP candidate.

The incident in question started when the retired neurosurgeon described the Islamic faith as inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution.

“I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation,” Carson said in an interview aired Sunday. “I absolutely would not agree with that.”

In an interview with The Hill, Carson also clarified further why he believed a Muslim can not be the commander in chief.

“I do not believe Sharia is consistent with the Constitution of this country,” Carson said, referencing the Islamic law derived from the Koran and traditions of Islam. “Muslims feel that their religion is very much a part of your public life and what you do as a public official, and that’s inconsistent with our principles and our Constitution.”

A spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ibrahim Hooper, said this belief means Carson himself is not qualified to run for president.

“To me this really means he is not qualified to be president of the United States,” Hooper said. “You cannot hold these kinds of views and at the same time say you will represent all Americans, of all faiths and backgrounds.”

This statement was also echoed by the CAIR president. According to Nihad Awad, Ben Carson’s 2016 campaign should be suspended, with the retired doctor withdrawing from the race completely.

“We ask Mr. Ben Carson to withdraw from the presidential race, because he his unfit to lead,” Awad claimed, according to NPR, with the CAIR president noting how Article VI of the U.S. Constitution says that “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

Despite the reservations of Nihad Awad, Ben Carson also clarified what he meant by his no Muslim president comment, claiming the only exception should be if a Muslim “publicly rejected all the tenants of Sharia and lived a life consistent with that. Then I wouldn’t have any problem.”

At the time same, Carson discussed the concept of “Taqiyya,” which allows followers of Islam to mislead non-Muslims.

“Taqiyya is a component of Shia that allows, and even encourages you to lie to achieve your goals,” Carson said, noting how these questions “served a useful purpose by providing the opportunity to talk about what Sharia is and what their goals are.”

Do you agree with Nihad Awad that Ben Carson should quit his 2016 campaign? Or do you agree with the GOP candidate?

[Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]