Iran's Rouhani says it's up to Muslims to correct Islam's image
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TEHRAN: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday that Muslims must improve the image of their religion, which has been tarnished by the violence of hardliner groups such as Islamic State,
"It is our greatest duty today to correct the image of Islam in world public opinion," Rouhani told a conference on Islamic unity in Tehran in a speech broadcast by state television.
His remarks were rare for a leader of Iran, which considers itself an authority in the Islamic world and often blames the "enemies" of the religion for problems in the Middle East.
"Did we ever think that, instead of enemies, an albeit small group from within the Islamic world using the language of Islam, would present it as the religion of killing, violence, whips, extortion and injustice?" Rouhani said.
Rouhani, a relative moderate, said Islamic principles opposed violence and the extremism of groups such as Islamic State stemmed from "narrow-mindedness and a lack of moderation".
Rouhani criticized Muslim countries for "being silent in the face of all the killing and bloodshed" in Syria, Iraq and Yemen - conflicts in which Iran plays a role.
Also Read: Rouhani blames West for rise in violent extremism
Iran supports the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has close ties with neighboring Iraq, and condemns the Islamic State group which fights both governments.
The Islamic Republic is also an ally of the Houthi movement which seized control of most of Yemen last year and has fought a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia for nine months.
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Comments (70) Closed
Dec 27, 2015 05:56pm
Sensible !
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Dec 27, 2015 05:59pm
Well said Sir.
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Dec 27, 2015 06:00pm
It is easy to say that from the religious point of view but Islam has always been more political than it is religious. If Iran was not political they would not be involved in Yemen or Iraq.
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Dec 27, 2015 06:09pm
President Hassan Rouhani is absolutely right. We have allowed a hand full of extremists and hardliners within our communities to bring shame and bad name to Islam (a religion of peace) and to all of the followers of Islam. It is up to us to identify these individuals within our community and to prevent them from harming others.
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Dec 27, 2015 06:14pm
Image is built over a period of time by repeated actions, be it positive or negative. If Islamic image is at 'cross roads'every member of the community and govts. Should work together to change that perception. Otherwise, few individuals or groups will 'hijack' the otherwise a peaceful religion.
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Dec 27, 2015 06:15pm
I always considers that Muslims are friendly, but when I go all round places to explore various beef items with my Muslim friend then it's totally fine and I'm called a real Foodie, but as soon as my friend discovered that I eat lot of pork he constantly criticises me and stopped coming to my home! You have to respect the fact that when I don't care about my religious belief itself then i don't care about your religious belief either! Same things happens all over the world, when rest of us visit any Islamic country we have to follow their rule but when Muslim comes to this other world they bring their religion in the name of human rights. NOT COOL BROS!
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Dec 27, 2015 06:16pm
"Iran's Rouhani says it's up to Muslims to correct Islam's image:"
That's right and your country is leading the way to correct that image.
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Dec 27, 2015 06:21pm
Very right. For this noble cause, there must be political unity plus a action plan. Tough job but not impossible at all.
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Dec 27, 2015 06:24pm
"Muslims must improve the image of their religion - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani."
100% Agreed.
I am a SUNNI!
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Dec 27, 2015 06:25pm
Rouhani criticized Muslim countries for "being silent in the face of all the killing" in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. May be silence is their best/true friend's name and they have the faith that Silence as a true friend will never betray. or may be silence is better than unmeaning words...Folks...In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
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Dec 27, 2015 06:28pm
Not really.....the crusaders are playing their role in promoting evil in muslim lands as well to present the worst image.
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Dec 27, 2015 06:49pm
Very right, sir.
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Dec 27, 2015 06:50pm
Yes, totally agreed that Muslims should work out to save Islam's image. Who ever is abusing Islam's image he is creating negative externality. It is our duty to stop abuse of Islam's message i.e. Peace.
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Dec 27, 2015 06:56pm
President Rouhani is right. More than anything, Muslims the world over need introspect. Mr. Rouhani should lead by example by starting from his own backyard.
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Dec 27, 2015 06:59pm
Fully support the views of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani that Muslims must improve the image of their religion.
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Dec 27, 2015 07:02pm
At least someone from an Islamic country has come up with the truth
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Dec 27, 2015 07:04pm
The extremists and terrorists have brought a very bad name to all the Muslims. If all the countries are today are afraid and suspicious of Muslims, it is on account of these extremists and terrorists. It is therefore the duty of all Muslims to erase this bad image among world countries, by at least condemning and disowning these extremists and terrorists.
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Dec 27, 2015 07:08pm
Iran is worth to be followed by other Muslim countries.
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Dec 27, 2015 07:09pm
Lets not forget who created the chaos in Iraq, Syria and Libya. Also lets not forget who armed and financed Mujahideen, Bin Laden and ISIS. Finally lets not forget who supports draconian, oppressive, non-democractic regimes in the middle east.
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Dec 27, 2015 07:12pm
You said very well but let me make it border. Islam condemns individuals or group of individuals to go and take action themselves. There is no difference between Hizbullah or other such groups. Both are worse. Problem is that when these groups are fighting for our purpose we hail them.
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Dec 27, 2015 07:12pm
Well said. Wish such words of wisdom had come from Our Arab brothers as well.
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Dec 27, 2015 07:13pm
Accurate assessment. Hardliners should follow
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Dec 27, 2015 07:19pm
Words of wisdom from a wise leader.
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Dec 27, 2015 07:31pm
Now time is to eradicate terrorism and corruption in the entire world.Muslims must realize that why they are considered terrorist in the world while non believers during the time of ignorance used to deposit their wealth and gewlery in the premises of Holy Prophet and our beloved prophet even pray for their welfare.Muslims must remind their past when they were small in number but they succeeded in multidimension.They were torch bearer of knowledge and humanity.
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Dec 27, 2015 07:54pm
First call it 21st century crusades before sitting together without any barriers of sect and join heads to find a way out of the ever aggravating crisis.
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Dec 27, 2015 07:54pm
I support.
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Dec 27, 2015 07:57pm
Stop focusing too much on religion.
Enjoy life and let others enjoy. Image will change automatically. No special efforts required.
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Dec 27, 2015 08:33pm
This is an evidence of a paradigm shift in the global politics of Tehran.
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Dec 27, 2015 08:35pm
A very pragmatic statement by President Rouhani. The sooner it is followed in right earnest, better it would be for Islam and world peace. Other world leaders from the Muslim world need to show a similar approach and it needs to supported by global community.
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Dec 27, 2015 08:44pm
Correct. Don't blame the world
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Dec 27, 2015 08:44pm
@Akil Akhtar The people who are casting it in evil terms will continue to do it.It is the responsibility of every single Muslim to counter and demonstrate with his actions that he is a excellent member of larger human family who is friendly to all no matter what the race,religion ,nationality etc.
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Dec 27, 2015 08:50pm
@Roy you have a great point but you should talk to your friend and at least have a Healthy dialogue, and I bet you have never killed a boar in the wild as whatever the consume is still partially rotten as living maggots inside them. That's not the case with beef or chicken as they have a longer digestive cycle.
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Dec 27, 2015 09:00pm
Mr. Rouhani you are the only Islamic leader who spoke 100% correct on this issue. Thank you. You know most Islamic leaders worry about their chair but not about Islam what it is going through today.
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Dec 27, 2015 09:00pm
Wake-up Muslim brothers and sisters and take the advice of this great man of Islamic republic of Iran in amending the bad image of Islam created by these terrorists
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Dec 27, 2015 09:03pm
100%.
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Dec 27, 2015 09:17pm
The saudis are spreading their death cult with the blessings and encouragement of their western masters. President Rouhani has made a straight forward statement.
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Dec 27, 2015 09:18pm
Is anybody listening? Sane voices normally get drowned against narrow political and religious postures.
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Dec 27, 2015 09:38pm
The evils who call themselves Islamic state or use Islam as their shield are
totally responsible for tarnishing Islam's image. Also some hard liners who try to
distance themselves from Non Muslims or Muslims of different faiths create
bad image of Islam.
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Dec 27, 2015 09:40pm
Unlike other major religions of the World Islam lacks evolution with time, it is still stuck in the seventh century even, though the world progress tremendously in other aspects of life. Progressive thinking is the need of the hour in Islamic World, backwardness will get you nowhere.
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Dec 27, 2015 09:46pm
Absolute truth; nobody is constructing or deconstructing our image. We, and none else is, are squarely responsible for the image the world has of us as where there is smoke there is fire. It's about time that all Muslims not only loudly condemn such acts but their govrnments play a direct role in eliminating this widespread cancer.
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Dec 27, 2015 10:11pm
NOW is the time to make a SUNNI-SHIA ALLIANCE Against Extremism and terrorism. Only Together we can eliminate any ideology of hate, intolerance, and oppression...Which is NOT part of any Islamic teaching. This ideology is hurting our image and religion. Please wake up and join hands together!!
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Dec 27, 2015 10:16pm
He is right partly, part of his speech is condeming arabs for forgeting the crimes of Israel against Palestian. Also he condems Arabs state buying billions of dollars in weapons and dropping on muslim nation
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Dec 27, 2015 10:49pm
The most positive and appropriate statement from a muslim leader!
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Dec 27, 2015 10:56pm
Very well said indeed!!!!!!
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Dec 27, 2015 11:03pm
@khanm When something wrong is happening, silence is not the answer. People will consider silence as agreement with what is happening and you dont want that. So speak up and learn to critcise if something wrong is going on.
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Dec 27, 2015 11:05pm
Saudi Arabia is now the biggest arm importer in the world . This is not a good sign . Notice -any Muslim countries Shia - Sunni were living side by side peacefully until Al Saud bring its own version of Islam .
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Dec 27, 2015 11:24pm
Rouhani is talking sense! Better late than never! This is what the world has been seeing all along... We call it 'Islamophobia' when an infidel says this! Wake up Muslims!
Love you Maulana!
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Dec 27, 2015 11:26pm
@Umar khan well said Umar. It's not even about Saudi Arabia but any ideology that divides us as Muslims must be condemned openly by all Sunnis and Shias and we should fight this ideology together!! Key is Sunnis and Shias reaching out to each other and hold hands against this ideology!!
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Dec 27, 2015 11:57pm
Spoken like a true leader!
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Dec 28, 2015 12:52am
The deep hatred and violent divide between Shia and Sunni Muslims is astonishing for us non Muslims. Hindus too have their castes and sects, but nobody blows the other sect with bombs.!! Christians protestants don't kill Catholics with bullets or rape their girls. Mahayana Buddhists do not shoot Hinayana boys.
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Dec 28, 2015 12:57am
@Rational Corp .... Their Western masters made the Saudis very rich, and they love money. Thank the Hindu Gandhi for getting rid of your Western masters.
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Dec 28, 2015 02:32am
I see Obama's hand
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Dec 28, 2015 02:35am
I totally agree with Sameer, let's not focus on religion too much, live and let others live, things will automatically fall in place.
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Dec 28, 2015 02:43am
Logical
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Dec 28, 2015 04:00am
Thank you for asking us to do, obvious.
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Dec 28, 2015 04:08am
Simple,sound common sense aka WISDOM!:)
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Dec 28, 2015 04:25am
Need of the hour.
@ AK it is only the extremists (or 'beemaar log') who behave like that. Genuine sunnis and shias do not approve of attacks on each other or any sect.
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Dec 28, 2015 04:48am
@ak I do not think that there is no sectarian violence among Hindus!! Which place you are leaving are you in some big city like Mumbai or Delhi!
Go to some village where your cast is written on your face, everyone knows your cast and they behave accordingly. When someone cross the limit, they are killed like chickens..
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Dec 28, 2015 04:50am
Problems of muslim world can only be resolved if Saudis become sensible.
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Dec 28, 2015 04:51am
brother Rouhani 100% agree whit you
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Dec 28, 2015 06:35am
I agree. The change has to come from inside. No point blaming the West for what Muslims have done to Islam and its perception in the West. They did not create the perception, we did and we have to change it.
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Dec 28, 2015 06:43am
Very timely remark.
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Dec 28, 2015 07:00am
Very sensible this is the wayout, Muslims countries cannot afford to defend terrorist be it in the name of Islam or any other pretext. Infact Muslims countries must officially adopt a clear policy and make clear statement that all citizens of Islamic Countries regardless of their religious affiliation enjoy rights and equal status whether.
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Dec 28, 2015 07:27am
@Cyrus
You mean the only country who's is actually fighting against all terrorist and extremists should also have given up.
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Dec 28, 2015 08:02am
@Dr. Farooq Khan Thats incorrect because Islamic State is attacking innocent people, slaughtering them, killing children and raping women etc while the group you are mentioning never did such activities. You need to correct your information.
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Dec 28, 2015 08:56am
First time I have found a Muslim leader that too of such stature talking some sense. He wants Muslims to look inside and that's great. Arab countries have so much of wealth because of oil. They could have made their countries ahead in technology and research but they didn't do that. Now one can blame that Western countries didn't allowed them. To some extent it could be true but not 100%. Its also true that western countries taught world about human rights. When a person or country decides to follow a path nobody could stop them. They can only create hurdles. Now sadly the oil will no longer earn much money as smart westerners have moved on. America is now the exporter of oil from Importer. Muslim countries have lot the great opportunity which presented to them..
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Dec 28, 2015 01:37pm
@Cyrus Islam is a complete religion and Politics is the integral part of Islam as Islam is the complete code of life it is imperative on Muslims to live their lives according to the tenets of Islam you cannot separate politics from Islam but Islam has its own strict rules with regard to rulers which gives peace, security and justice to all society irrespective of cast, creed, religion and social stature
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Dec 28, 2015 01:40pm
@Akil Akhtar "the crusaders are playing their role in promoting evil in muslim lands as well to present the worst image" then it has become more imperative on Muslims around the world that they should expose such elements and distance themselves from such people
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Dec 28, 2015 01:42pm
@Dr. Farooq Khan "There is no difference between Hizbullah" kindly quote any single instance where Hizbullah committed such crimes which ISIS, Al-Qaeda or Taliban have been committing for the last many years ?
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Dec 29, 2015 05:05pm
@Kabeer : A religion is simply a vehicle to reach the God and it should only be spread by love, not by sword. Once you force people or kill them in the name of religion, it is lost.
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