Following the deadly explosions in Brussels that killed at least 30 people and wounded 230 others, the Rev. Franklin Graham reiterated his call for the U.S. to temporary halt immigration to people from Muslim countries - or risk another terrorist attack.
"Join me in praying for the victims and families of the Muslim terrorist attack in Belgium today. Islamists have told us we will see more of these attacks and we have to take their threats seriously," Graham, 64, wrote on Facebook Tuesday.
"I have long supported a temporary halt to immigration, especially for those coming from Muslim countries, until we have a vetting program that works and we can know who these people are. If we can't get an accurate background check, they don't come in. It's as simple as that," he added.
"What happened in Brussels, in Paris, and in New York on 9/11 will happen again inside our borders unless something changes because the current administration has lowered the standards and our President even refuses to acknowledge this as Islamic terrorism."
According to the BBC, ISIS claimed responsibility for Tuesday's co-ordinated attacks on Brussels which saw suicide bombers strike at Zaventem airport and Maelbeek metro station shortly afterwards.
The airport suicide bombers have been named as brothers Khalid and Ibrahim El-Bakraoui. The third man, seen next to the brothers in CCTV footage, is allegedly the Paris bomb maker Najim Laachraoui.
Religious and political leaders from around the world have since condemned the attacks and sent prayers and condolences for the victims of bombings.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel described the attacks as a "black moment" for his country while French President Francois Hollande responded with a statement in which he spoke of a "global threat which necessitates a global response".
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby was among those offering condolences on Twitter.
"Deeply shocked by cruel attacks in Brussels. This Holy Week let us pray for the victims, for peace and for true service to our loving God," he tweeted.
The Vatican also released a statement: "The Holy Father again condemns the blind violence which causes so much suffering, and imploring of God the gift of peace, he invokes for the bereaved families and the Belgian people the consolation of divine blessings."
This is not the first time Graham has argued that there needs to be a temporary ban on Muslims coming to America: he expressed a similar sentiment back in 2015 after 24-year old Mohammad Youssef Abdulazeez shot and killed four Marines in Chattanooga, TN.
He wrote: "We are under attack by Muslims at home and abroad. We should stop all immigration of Muslims to the U.S. until this threat with Islam has been settled. Every Muslim that comes into this country has the potential to be radicalized--and they do their killing to honor their religion and Muhammad. During World War 2, we didn't allow Japanese to immigrate to America, nor did we allow Germans. Why are we allowing Muslims now?"
According to a survey conducted by Nashville-based LifeWay Research, 39 percent of Americans view Islam as a threat to their own nation's religious liberty, and 40 percent consider it a danger to religious freedom internationally.
