True Islam teaches peace, not violence, leaders say at forum

Islamic leaders in China urged Muslims not to fall into the trap of religious extremism and vowed to improve their guidance to help believers stay on the peaceful path of Islam.

"War and violence are never seen as holy in Islam. The extremists' theories of going to heaven after killing and treating non-Muslims as enemies are just not among the teachings," said Ma Guangyue, imam of Laowang Mosque in Gansu province, at an international forum on eliminating religious extremism on Thursday.

About 100 Islamic leaders and scholars from China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan participated in the two-day forum held in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The forum started on Wednesday.

Ma added that religious leaders need to play a bigger role in teaching their followers the correct path of Islam more clearly so they won't be recruited by religious extremists.

Religious leaders should also help non-Muslims learn more about Islam so people won't have misunderstandings, such as the notion that Islam supports terrorism.

Wang Zuoan, head of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, said at the forum that religious extremists twist the teachings of religion and instigate hatred in the name of religion, and their theories have formed an ideological basis for carrying out terrorist attacks around the world.

Legitimate Islam has been facing heightened challenges since the start of the 21st century when the international political environment got complicated, experts say.

"If religious extremism is a lock, the peaceful path that promotes inclusiveness and integration is the key," said Lyu Jinhu, deputy director of the Islamic Association of Henan province.

"Not understanding what Islam is, easily being manipulated and having no respect for laws are the reasons why people turn to religious extremism," said Abudulrekep Tumniaz, director of Xinjiang Islamic Institute.

Altynbek Utiskhanuli, head of the general department of youth affairs in the Religious Administration of Kazakhstan's Muslims, said religious extremists may pose as Muslims but they don't really know about Islam, instead twisting the teachings to serve their own purposes.

Wang added that international religious communities need to support each other in eliminating religious extremism, which is a global threat.

More efforts should be made to "direct religious figures and believers to respect and abide by the law, resolutely guard against illegal infiltration via religious means and promote religious and social harmony", President Xi Jinping said at a mosque in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region earlier this week.