They have to keep telling us, over and over again, because there is so very much evidence to the contrary.
“‘Islam is religion of peace,’ says Sheikh of 3rd holiest site Islamic world during Gloucester talk,” Gloucester Citizen, November 29, 2015:
People who claim to commit atrocities in the name of Islam “cannot be true followers” of the faith.
That was the message of peace offered when the president of the third holiest site in the Islamic world visited Gloucester today.
Sheikh Omar Kiswani, president of Masjid al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, visited The Friendship Cafe in Barton as the first stop on his UK tour.
The Sheikh travelled from Jerusalem to Gloucester to encourage people to visit the historic mosque.
He also condemned those who claimed to commit atrocities in the name of Islam.
During the talk he said: “The message of Islam is one of peace and one of respecting the different faiths and cultures.
“Those who carry out atrocities in the name of Islam are not followers of Islam.”
The Sheikh recalled the history of the Masjid al-Aqsa mosque, which is regarded by Muslims as behind only Mecca and Medina in its significance to the faith.
Speaking through a translator, he said: “It would give us so much contentment to meet you when you visit Masjid al-Aqsa.”
He also spoke about the mosque’s role in the continuing conflict between Israel and Palestine, and how the area was peaceful many years ago.
“At the time when the Caliphs ruled they had peace and harmony.
“When a community is oppressed or going through times when their lands may have been taken or occupied, tensions will remain.
“Only when these issues are resolved can those days come back again.”
The Sheikh’s visit came after 26 people from Gloucester visited the mosque in 2007….