Mark Zuckerberg has told Muslims that they are “always welcome” on Facebook.
Mr Zuckerberg, who called himself the “leader of Facebook”, said that he was speaking after “the Paris attacks and hate this week”. But the remarks seem pointed at comments by Donald Trump, who said that he would ban Muslims from entering the US if his presidential bid was successful, along with threatening to ban the internet.
“I can only imagine the fear Muslims feel that they will be persecuted for the actions of others,” Mr Zuckerberg wrote.
“As a Jew, my parents taught me that we must stand up against attacks on all communities. Even if an attack isn't against you today, in time attacks on freedom for anyone will hurt everyone.
“If you're a Muslim in this community, as the leader of Facebook I want you to know that you are always welcome here and that we will fight to protect your rights and create a peaceful and safe environment for you,” Mr Zuckerberg wrote.
Mr Zuckerberg made reference to his new child, Max. He and his wife Priscilla Chan announced the birth of their daughter last week, and Mr Zuckerberg posted a picture on Facebook of the two together.
“Having a child has given us so much hope, but the hate of some can make it easy to succumb to cynicism,” he wrote. “We must not lose hope. As long as we stand together and see the good in each other, we can build a better world for all people.”
