US Muslims want defiant trump to apologize over hate remarks

A US Muslim advocacy group urges Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump to apologize for comments that Islam harbors hatred toward the West.

In a Wednesday interview with CNN, Trump said, "Islam hates us…There's a tremendous hatred. We have to get to the bottom of it. There is an unbelievable hatred of us."

The statement drew swift condemnation from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which called on Trump to apologize.

Trump also said that the West was at war against radical Islam, adding that it was hard to separate extremism from the religion itself.

"Donald Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric does not reflect leadership, but instead reflects a bigoted mindset that only serves to divide our nation and the world," Nihad Awad, the group's national executive director said in a statement.

The group suggested Trump apologize at Thursday evening's Republican debate in Miami, Florida.

But speaking at the event, Trump refused to renounce his earlier position, saying, “I will stick with exactly what I said.”

The presidential candidate came under fire even from his rivals over his controversial comments. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Governor John Kasich said that the US needs to maintain good relations with Muslim countries in the Middle East.

The Republican presidential contender also expressed confidence about winning Florida and Ohio ahead of crucial primaries in the two states on March 15

Trump’s campaign has been marked by controversial statements and disparaging remarks about Mexican immigrants and Muslims.

The New York real-estate mogul has called for a total shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. He has also pledged to deport undocumented workers from the US and build a wall on the Mexico border.

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