TWO years ago my 90-year-old dad had a heart attack. He was looked after by an Iranian doctor in a local hospital.

He was a brilliant doctor and he did everything he could for my dad. They got on very well together and I know that my late father was very grateful for everything this gentleman did to try to save his life.

If this doctor was currently visiting the US on holiday, or attending an academic conference, he would be held in custody as a potential terrorist following a Presidential decree signed by Donald Trump.

It should be noted that this his ban on Muslim people travelling to the US was not passed by Congress but by so called ‘executive order’, the likes of which have not been used by so-called civilised nations since the decrees by Hitler and the Nazis against Jews in the 1930s.

What I find equally worrying is that our sycophantic Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary have failed to take a stand on this issue for fear of upsetting the US. Moreover, judging by what has been posted on social media, the majority of Ukip supporters seem to approve of Trump’s action.

The Tories and Ukipers who grovel to Trump remind me of the right wingers of the 1930s, like Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who licked Hitler’s jackboots. In doing so they aided and abetted the Nazis to commit their hideous crimes.

John Gilmore, Bishop Auckland.

SPEAKING to Republicans in Philadelphia, the Prime Minister has said that it is in the interests of both Britain and the US to "stand strong together to defend our values, our interests and the very ideas in which we believe".

The problem is that most British people do not share Donald Trump's values, and, with the exception of Nigel Farage, most British politicians of all parties do not believe in his ideas. Racism, misogyny, xenophobia and the scapegoating of immigrants, refugees, Muslims and other minorities are problems which Britain, like any other country, has to contend with; but such prejudice is not officially endorsed. By contrast, Trump has gained support by exploiting fear and prejudice, and is formulating US policy on the basis of racism and Islamophobia.

His approval of torture is particularly alarming. Pointing to dreadful atrocities by ISIS, he says, "we must fight fire with fire." But we cannot, and should not, attempt to fight terrorism and barbarity with terrorism and barbarity. Respect for human rights and the rule of law is what distinguishes us from tyrants and terrorists. Torture does not work, and is morally indefensible.

Such arguments are unlikely to change Trump's opinion. But he might just be swayed by the fact that torture is counter-productive. There is overwhelming evidence that torture and abuse at Bagram, Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo served only to inflame hostility to the US, and to invigorate jihadist groups across the world.

Pete Winstanley, Durham.