Television personality Sonia Kruger calls for Australia to ban Muslims

TODAY Extra host Sonia Kruger has defended her controversial comments to ban Muslims from entering Australia.

MEDIA personality Sonia Kruger has called for Australia to stop taking in Muslim migrants.

The Today showpanel was addressing a recent article by Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt, which attributed terror attacks in France to the country’s intake of Muslim migrants.

Opinion: Andrew Bolt’s original column

Ms Kruger, who hosts Today’s sister show Today Extra, said she had a lot of “peace-loving, beautiful Muslim friends”, but admitted she agreed with the controversial opinion piece.

“Personally, I would like to see it (Muslim migration) stop now for Australia,” she said.

She referred to Japan, a racially homogeneous country with a low proportion of Muslim migrants, and pointed out that they don't experience terror attacks by Islamic extremists.

“I want to feel safe, as all of our citizens do when they go out to celebrate Australia Day, and I’d like to see freedom of speech.”

At this point, host David Campbell chimed in exclaiming: “I’d like to see freedom of religion as well, as well as freedom of speech! They both go hand in hand.”

Referring to the Bolt column, he said: “This breeds hate. This sort of article breeds hate.”

Ms Kruger responded: “I would venture that if you spoke to the parents of those children killed in Nice, they would be of the same opinion.”

When asked by Lisa Wilkinson to clarify whether she was saying she would like Australian borders closed to Muslims at this point, Ms Kruger outright said: “Yes I would. For the safety of our citizens here, I think it’s important.”

Here is the full segment:

Andrew Bolt believes Muslim migration in France has opened the door to terror. Thoughts? #9Today https://t.co/d1VIqB0PVv

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) July 17, 2016

Ms Kruger’s words have produced a mixed reaction on social media.

Oh @SoniaKruger 😕 Creating division is exactly what the extremists want. You've just handed them exactly the commentary they want.

— Jonathan Brown (JB) (@JB_AU) July 17, 2016

@SoniaKruger I can't believe you can make such racist and horrid remarks about immigration on national television. That is disgusting

— kc (@obliviouslester) July 17, 2016

Whether you agree with @SoniaKruger or not on border control, appreciate she is only looking out for Australian safety and that took guts!

— Nic Ashman (@Nic_Ashman) July 17, 2016

@TheTodayShow Wow, Sonia Kruger, you are a RACIST.

— Sassy Lassie (@NaughtySec) July 17, 2016

In Bolt’s column, which was published this morning, he said there was a clear link between immigration and terrorism.

“Why have jihadist terrorists made France Europe’s bloodiest battlefield?” he writes. “Simple answer: Because France let in the most Muslims.

Read the full column here.