At war with people who have perverted Islam: Barack Obama

Washington, Feb 19: President Barack Obama has said the US and its allies are not at war with Islam but with people who have perverted the religion, asserting that groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda are desperate for legitimacy by portraying themselves as holy warriors in defense of religion.

"We are not at war with Islam. We are at war with people who have perverted Islam," Obama said at the White House Summit on 'Countering Violent Extremism', on Wednesday. "ISIS and al-Qaeda and groups like it are desperate for legitimacy. They try to portray themselves as religious leaders, holy warriors in defense of Islam.

That's why ISIS presumes to declare itself the Islamic State and they propagate the notion that America, and the West generally, are at war with Islam. That's how they recruit. That's how they try to radicalise young people," he said.

Obama said those outside Muslim communities need to reject the terrorist narrative that the West and Islam are in conflict or modern life and Islam are in conflict.

"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," he said on the second day of the three-day conference, which is being attended by leaders from more than 60 countries including India.

"I also believe that Muslim communities have a responsibility as well. ISIS and al-Qaeda do draw selectively from the Islamic texts," he said.

Obama: They are not religious leaders, they're terrorists

"They do depend upon the misperception around the world that they speak in some fashion for people of the Muslim faith, that Islam is somehow inherently violent, that there is some sort of clash of civilisations," he said, adding that the terrorists do not speak for a billion Muslims who reject their ideology.

Obama said there is need to speak up against violent extremism.

"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," he asserted.

PTI