Muslim woman’s open letter to Donald Trump goes viral after he confirms plans for Muslims to register on national database

'Maybe if you walk in my footsteps, you can see that I am not any less human than you are'

Trump also called for surveillance on 'certain mosques' (Ty Wright/Getty Images)

A young Muslim woman’s open letter to Donald Trump responding to his plans to force American Muslims to register on a national database has gone viral, getting the seal of approval from Mark Zuckerberg in the process.

Marwa Balkar, who lives in Los Angeles California posted a photograph of herself alongside the open essay. The post has so far been shared over 140,000 times and amassed almost 500,000 ‘likes’, including one from the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg.

Ms Balkar posted the letter after GOP presidential hopeful Mr Trump confirmed he would make Muslims register on a national database. Muslims would also receive identification noting their religion, under his proposals.

Mr Trump has since refused to comment on accusations the scheme was reminiscent of Jews being forced to register their religion and carry identification in Nazi Germany.

In the photograph of Ms Balkar she is wearing a peace symbol as a badge. She explains: “I am not easily identifiable as a Muslim just by looking at me, so my new badge will let me display proudly who I am.

Dear @realdonaldtrump, My name is Marwa, and I am a Muslim. I heard you wanted us to start wearing ID badges, so I...

Posted by Marwa Balkar on Friday, 20 November 2015

“I chose the peace sign because it represents my Islam. The one that taught me to oppose injustice and yearn for unity.”

At a recent rally in Alabama, the 69-year-old also said he wanted to issue surveillance on “certain mosques”.

“The people that are involved in those mosques, they know who the bad ones are and they know who the good ones are, but they don’t talk. We have to survey the mosques.”

Ms Balkar also chose to address this pledge in her open letter.

“I heard you want to track us as well. Great! You can come with me on my Cancer Awareness walks at the local middle school… You can also see how my local mosque makes PB&J [Peanut Butter and Jam] sandwiches for the homeless and hosts interfaith dinners where everyone is welcome.

“Maybe then you’ll see that me being Muslim doesn’t make me any less American than you are. Maybe if you walk in my footsteps, you can see that I am not any less human than you are.”

Ms Balkar is not the only American Muslim to make a stand on social media against Mr Trump’s comments.

Doctors, veterans and students have shared photos of their work identity cards to the Republican frontrunner, saying they are their ‘Muslim IDs’.