Don't defame Islam: Gaddafi aide

Mumbai, Jun 29: A close aide to Libyan leader Col Muammar Gaddafi emphasised that there was no place for terrorism in Islam and it was being defamed by vested interest groups for political reasons.

Dr Mohamed Shahumi, an advisor to Col Gaddafi and a former chief of National Oil Company of Libya, said ''People are trying to give a political colour to the events related to terror and are defaming Islam.'' Different sects of Islam must come together to foil the design of these vested interest groups, he said while addressing a day-long conference on ''Unity, Love and Tolerance - Islamic Perspective'' at a hotel in South Mumbai.

Dr Shahumi pointed out that Islam talks about humanity but after the 9/11 incident, people have been trying to take political mileage by linking religion with an act of terrorism.

''Islam does not support terrorism,'' he clarified.

The conference was organised by Scientific Council of Alsadah al-Ashraf in association with All India Uleema Association.

Experts on Islam from countries like Egypt, Libya, Syria, Holland, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and India participated in the conference.

''The aim of the conference is to spread the message of Prophet Mohammed on peace and tolerace,'' said Sami Bubere, convenor of the conference.

In the meet, a resolution was also passed, which condemned terrorism and called for giving respect to the women.

UNI