US President hosts anti-terror summit, says Islam isn’t the enemy

monjola sotubo

February 19, 2015 11:03 AM

Government officials from around the world are attending the conference, which is holding at the White House, following recent terror attacks in Denmark, France and Australia.

US President, Barack Obama is currently hosting a three-day summit on countering worldwide and domestic extremism.

Government officials from around the world are attending the conference, which is holding at the White House, following recent terror attacks in Denmark, France and Australia.

President Obama stated in his remarks that the US is not at war with Islam and that terrorists groups had warped the religion to suit their own evil purposes.

“We are not at war with Islam. We are at war with people who have perverted Islam,” Obama said.

“We must never accept the premise that they put forward because it is a lie. Nor should we grant these terrorists the religious legitimacy that they seek. They are not religious leaders -- they're terrorists,” Obama added.

The President also urged Muslim communities to reject the terrorist narrative that groups like al Qaeda and ISIS use to radicalize their recruits.

“Of course, the terrorists do not speak for over a billion Muslims who reject their hateful ideology. They no more represent Islam than any madman who kills innocents in the name of God represents Christianity or Judaism or Buddhism or Hinduism. No religion is responsible for terrorism. People are responsible for violence and terrorism,” Obama said.

“We need to find new ways to amplify the voices of peace and tolerance and inclusion, and we especially need to do it online. We’ve got to discredit these ideologies. We have to tackle them head-on and we can’t shy away from these discussions,” the President continued.

Obama also expressed optimism that the United States and its allies would defeat ISIS. “We will ultimately prevail,” he said at the meeting.

monjola sotubo