WASHINGTON, Jan 1: Following a strong protest by American Muslims, the ruling Republican Party has removed an anti-Islam link from one of its Websites.

“We apologize for the link to this website and have instituted safeguards against links to such sites in the future. There is no room for hate in our society,” says a message posted on the website of the Guild Ford County, North Carolina, Republican Party.

Last week, the Council on American-Islamic Relations and other Muslim advocacy groups called on the Republican group in North Carolina to remove the link as its contents were hurtful to more than seven million Muslims who live in the United States.

The website had a link to a site called “Islam Exposed” that states: “This website was designed with one objective in mind — to expose Islam and Muslims” and describes Muslims as “barbaric and savage” people.

The link caused a flood of protest from Muslims concerned, requesting the party to de-link itself from hate groups.