Jewish groups reject Trump's Muslim database proposal

Reince Priebus says administration will not create registry based on religion, a one-time campaign promise

The American Jewish Committee slammed the idea of creating a database of Muslims in the United States, a day after President-elect Donald Trump’s recently named chief-of-staff said there were no plans to create a religion-based registry.

“Look, I’m not going to rule out anything,” Trump’s appointed chief of staff, Reince Priebus, told NBC on Sunday, when asked if would “unequivocally” rule out the idea.

“We’re not going to have a registry based on a religion. But what I think what we’re trying to do is say that there are some people, certainly not all people … there are some people that are radicalized. And there are some people that have to be prevented from coming into this country.”

Trump said last year that he “would certainly implement” a database system that tracks Muslims, and there have been recent reports that Trump’s transition team is considering the idea. The president-elect has also called for a ban on Muslim immigration to the US.

The American Jewish Committee on Monday denounced the proposal.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and AJC Executive Director David Harris (right) during a meeting Monday in Israel (photo credit: Olivier Fitoussi/AJC) — AJC Executive Director David Harris (Olivier Fitoussi/AJC)

“Singling out any ethnic or faith group to register with the government is both morally repugnant and unconstitutional,” the group’s CEO, David Harris, said in a statement.

Harris added: “Targeting all Muslims is a horror movie that we Jews are all too familiar with. It can easily lead to heightened discrimination, persecution, and scapegoating. In the United States, there is no place – no place, whatsoever – for this kind of divisive, hateful rhetoric.”

Reince Priebus looks on as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to greet Bob Woodson, president of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, before their meeting at Trump International Golf Club, November 19, 2016 in Bedminster Township, New Jersey. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images/AFP)

Last week, the Anti-Defamation League’s CEO and national director, Jonathan Greenblatt, said he would sign up as a Muslim if a registry was created.

“As Jews, we know what it means to be registered, or targeted, held out as different from our fellow citizens,” Greenblatt said. “We as Jews know the right and just response. I pledge to you right here and now, because I’m committed to the fight against anti-Semitism, if one day American Muslims will be forced to register their identity, that is the day this proud Jew will register as a Muslim.”