Muhammad Ali launches scathing attack on ISIS after Donald Trump proposes ban on Muslims entering the United States

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has launched a scathing attack on ISIS and defended Muslims, amid outrage caused by Donald Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering America.

The Republican politician and reality TV star, who is favourite to be the candidate for next year's 2016 Presidential election, sparked outrage this week when demanding a ban on Muslims coming to the United States after the San Bernardino terror attack.

While thousands in the UK have signed a petition calling for Trump to be banned from Britain under hate speech laws, 73-year-old Muhammad Ali has now weighed in.

In a statement, the three-time heavyweight boxing world champion said: "I am a Muslim and there is nothing Islamic about killing innocent people in Paris, San Bernardino, or anywhere else in the world.

"True Muslims know that the ruthless violence of so called Islamic jihadists goes against the very tenets of our religion.

Slammed: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has been widely criticised for his proposal to ban Muslims from entering the US (

Image:

Getty)

"[Terrorists] have alienated many from learning about Islam.

"True Muslims know or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anybody."

Ali, in a statement titled 'Presidential Candidates Proposing to Ban Muslim Immigration to the United States', added: "Speaking as someone who has never been accused of political correctness, I believe that our political leaders should use their position to bring understanding about the religion of Islam and clarify that these misguided murderers have perverted people’s views on what Islam really is."

But yesterday Trump stood by his comments.

When asked if he regretted the ban on Muslims proposal, he said: "Not at all, we have to do the right thing. Somebody in this country has to say what's right.

"I have great respect and love - I have people that I have tremendous relationships with - they're Muslim.

"And Barbara they agree with me 100%. It's short term.

"Let our country get its act together. They knocked down the World Trade Centre.

"We have to be tough. We have to be smart. We have to be vigilant."

In the same interview, Trump told ABC that he was "the worst thing to ever happen to ISIS".

J.K. Rowling even weighed in.

The author claimed Donald Trump is much worse than Harry Potter villain Voldemort.

She told her followers on Twitter: "Voldemort was nowhere near as bad."