Iran's Rouhani urges Muslims to fix Islam's global image

[Blackmoon]

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Muslims should strive towards improving the world's opinion of Islam, which he says has been tarnished by violence.
"We must remove Islam's negative image from today's cyber and real space," he told a conference in Tehran.
Mr Rouhani, a religious moderate, said Islamic principles opposed violence.
In a veiled reference to Saudi Arabia and its persian Gulf allies, he also criticized nations which had bought US weapons and fired them at fellow Muslims.
Iran is staunchly opposed to the Saudi-led aerial bombardment campaign targeting Shia Houthi rebels who seized control of large parts of Yemen earlier this year.
"How many bombs and missiles have you purchased from America this year?" Mr Rouhani asked. "If you had distributed the money for those bombs and missiles among poor Muslims, nobody would be going to bed hungry."

'Greatest duty'
Addressing a conference on Islamic unity on Sunday, the Iranian president spoke of the shame of watching Muslim children make long, dangerous journeys to seek refuge in non-Islamic countries.
"It is our greatest duty today to correct the image of Islam in world public opinion," he said in the speech that was aired live on state television.
He voiced concern that damage was being done to Islam's reputation by the violence in its heartlands, and urged all Islamic nations in the region to stop the "violence, terror and massacres".
He also condemned 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.
Iran supports the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, providing soldiers and military expertise in the fight against the rebels and jihadists, including the so-called Islamic State (IS) group. Iran also has close ties to Iraq and condemns IS militants who are fighting both the Syrian and Iraqi governments.

 

[nang2]

If they hunt down "Islamic" terrorists like they hunt down Rushdie, I think they will fix the image fairly quickly.

 

[AmirPatriot]

If they hunt down "Islamic" terrorists like they hunt down Rushdie, I think they will fix the image fairly quickly.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_intervention_in_Iraq_(2014–present)

 

[Madali]

If they hunt down "Islamic" terrorists like they hunt down Rushdie, I think they will fix the image fairly quickly.

Hah, that's such a stupid comment on many levels, but the most obvious one is that since Rushdie has been alive and well since the fatwa in the 80s, that would mean if they "they hunt down "Islamic" terrorists like they hunt down Rushdie" then all the terrorists would be perfectly safe.

But luckily, it's not like that, and Iran has been doing all it can in helping its neighbors fight against extremist terrorists.

 

[mohsen]

I'm wondering how Mr Rohani wants to fix the image of Islam when he calls the terrorist supporters (saudi monarches) as his brother? how he wants to fix that image while he is planning a friendship with the creators (Americans) of those terrorist groups?
can someone enlighten us?

 

[haman10]

Unfortunately Islam's image is on the point of no return. All hail to wahhabism and sectarianism

This is done. We've F-ed up. Not even a hundred years of peace can fix what saudi arabia did to Islam.

Its done. All we can do is make sure Iraq and Syria come out as victors. That's all

 

[nang2]

Hah, that's such a stupid comment on many levels, but the most obvious one is that since Rushdie has been alive and well since the fatwa in the 80s, that would mean if they "they hunt down "Islamic" terrorists like they hunt down Rushdie" then all the terrorists would be perfectly safe.

But luckily, it's not like that, and Iran has been doing all it can in helping its neighbors fight against extremist terrorists.

Stupid as it is, it is just about the attitude, not a well thought-out suggestion. From my own view, I see that, for most laymen, terrorism is just terrorism. For the western governments, terrorism is just terrorism that hurt them and them only. For Islamic world, terrorism is the struggle between Sunni and Shia. How do you repair the image of Islam when Muslims cannot even agree on what the image of Islam should be?

 

[mohsen]

Unfortunately Islam's image is on the point of no return. All hail to wahhabism and sectarianism

This is done. We've F-ed up. Not even a hundred years of peace can fix what saudi arabia did to Islam.

Its done. All we can do is make sure Iraq and Syria come out as victors. That's all

but I think what has happened is that wahhabis have distinguished themselves from the rest of Muslims and it's a good thing. Now many people in the world know the difference between Shiah, Sunni and Wahhabis.
The sole purpose of creation wahhabi was to hurt Islam and now due to their master's grave mistake, people are understanding it.
Iraq and Syria will defeat them eventually but that's not the main victory, main victory is that wahhabis have shown their true face.

Stupid as it is, it is just about the attitude, not a well thought-out suggestion. From my own view, I see that, for most laymen, terrorism is just terrorism. For the western governments, terrorism is just terrorism that hurt them and them only. For Islamic world, terrorism is the struggle between Sunni and Shia. How do you repair the image of Islam when Muslims cannot even agree on what the image of Islam should be?

there can't be one image cause there is not one version of Islam, but we can highlight the differences and we will do.

 

[Plenipotentiary]

Unfortunately Islam's image is on the point of no return. All hail to wahhabism and sectarianism

This is done. We've F-ed up. Not even a hundred years of peace can fix what saudi arabia did to Islam.

Its done. All we can do is make sure Iraq and Syria come out as victors. That's all

don't give up my friend.... there's still hope.we can fix things up............

 

[ashley.1965]

Unfortunately Islam's image is on the point of no return. All hail to wahhabism and sectarianism

The real threat to Islam's image is the reality that Muslims are no longer in control of Islam's image. The entire narrative for Islam in this century emanates from non-Muslim sources, who have a vested interest in controlling and dominating our lands.

Its done. All we can do is make sure Iraq and Syria come out as victors. That's all

Actually, we can do much more. Eliminating sectarianism, and putting our own houses in order would be a start. As would seizing control of our own narrative. Let the world know about Islam from Muslims for a change, and not from Reuters, et al.

 

[Arsalan mehmud]

Unless or until we don't have control on our natural resource Islam image can't be fixed... We are still lacking a leader who can lead us to unity and bring all Muslims sect to unity..

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Why cant it start from home?

 

[Moonlight]

If Iran and Saudi stop fighting, much of the Muslim problems will be solved.

 

[waz]

@waz

You guys have spoiled this kid so much that I hope you are proud with your abomination. I'm still waiting an explanation why you banned Legionnare over a thing which is literally nothing compared to the filth produced by this tool. I'm genuinely wondering why you didn't show Legionnare 10% of the tolerance you have been showing to this troll since the day he registered.

Seeing as you just tagged me, I can't speak for all the moderators. I didn't ban brother Legionnaire, and he knows that. We all came to a agreement that Turkish members are best off not posting in the Iranian section and the Iranian members wouldn't post in the Turkish section. You guys just don't get on. It's best to stick to your own respective sections and obviously the neutral ground i.e. Middle East section and other sections.

 

[TurAr]

Seeing as you just tagged me, I can't speak for all the moderators. I didn't ban brother Legionnaire, and he knows that. We all came to a agreement that Turkish members are best off not posting in the Iranian section and the Iranian members wouldn't post in the Turkish section. You guys just don't get on. It's best to stick to your own respective sections and obviously the neutral ground i.e. Middle East section and other sections.

I asked you before who was responsible but my comment was removed, I suspect by the same person who banned Legionnaire. So mind telling me who is responsible so I can confront him directly.