Father of slain Muslim soldier to Trump: ‘Have you even read the Constitution?’

PHILADELPHIA — The father of a Muslim U.S. soldier who died in combat rebuked Donald Trump for his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the country in a dramatic moment at the Democrat National Convention on Thursday night.

Khizr Khan, the father of Humayun S. M. Khan, offered a blistering critique of Trump’s rhetoric toward Muslims.

{mosads}“Donald Trump consistently smears the character of Muslims,” Khan said. “He disrespects minorities and women, judges, even his own party leadership. He vows to build walls and ban us from this country. Donald Trump, you’re asking us to trust you with our future. Let me ask you. Have you even read the United States constitution?”

Khan pulled a pocket-sized copy of the Constitution from his jacket.

“I will gladly lend you my copy,” Khan said to huge applause.

“Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery?” he continued. “Go look at the graves of the brave patriots who died defending America. You will see all faiths, genders, and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing and no one. We can’t solve our problems by building walls and sowing division.”

Humayun S. M. Khan, 27, was killed in Iraq in 2004 when he walked toward a car loaded with explosives. The military posthumously awarded him a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He is buried in Arlington Cemetery.

Earlier Thursday, Democratic lawmakers rallied Muslim delegates against Trump at a meeting in Philadelphia.

The nation’s first elected Muslim member of Congress, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), encouraged Muslims to set up voter registration booths at mosques and encouraged Muslims to run for office.

Trump has proposed a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States to combat terrorism, though he now says the ban would focus on countries that are hotbeds of radical activity.