'You sacrificed nothing': Slain Muslim soldier's father challenges Trump

Khizr Khan – whose son Humayun died in a 2004 suicide bombing in Baquba – admonished the Republican presidential nominee for his plan to ban Muslims from entering the United States.

"Tonight we are honoured to stand here as parents of Captain Humayun Khan and as patriotic American Muslims with undivided loyalty to the country," he said, stirring delegates who had watched a video tribute to his son in captivated silence.

"If it was up to Donald Trump, he never would have been in America," he said. "Donald Trump consistently smears the character of Muslims."

"Donald Trump, you are asking Americans to trust you with their future, let me ask you – have you even read the United States Constitution?" he said, brandishing a copy to loud cheers.

"I will gladly lend you my copy!" Khan said, demanding Trump look for the word "liberty" and consult the 14th amendment, which guarantees equal protection before the law.

"Have you ever been to Arlington cemetery?" he demanded, as many in the audience were moved to tears. "Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending the United States of America. You will see all faiths, genders and ethnicities."

"You have sacrificed nothing, and no one!" he said.

The address was the latest effort by Democrats to highlight their diversity and criticise Trump's most contentious plans.

Beyond his proposed wall across Mexico, the billionaire businessman has threatened to ban Muslims from entering the United States if he becomes president.