President Barack Obama Speaks About Terrorism

Boko Haram insurgents and other terrorist organisations around the world have nothing to do with religion, according to American President Barack Obama.

Obama said on Thursday, February 19, that he does not use expressions such as Islamic radicalism because doing so would promote the false idea of a Western war against Islam, which would help militants convert more Muslims to their cause.


President Obama delivers closing remarks at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism

“No religion is responsible for terrorism — people are responsible for violence and terrorism,” Obama told delegates at the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism.

He added that armed force alone will not overcome terrorism, and the nation must work with local groups to decrease the influence of those who advocate violent extremism.

“They are not religious leaders,” Obama said. “They are terrorists.”

The US president added: “We are not at war with Islam — we are at war with people who have perverted Islam.”

In his summit comments, Obama noted the “fair amount of debate in the press and among pundits” about the words that should be used to “describe and frame this challenge” of violent radicalism.

Groups like the Islamic State, al-Qaeda and Boko Haram “try to portray themselves as religious leaders, holy warriors in defense of Islam,” Obama said, but “we must never accept the premise that they put forward, because it is a lie.”

Obama said that Muslim communities have responsibilities to oppose the abuse of religion by terror organisations like Boko Haram.