Justice and peace for all (From Stroud News and Journal)

Justice and peace for all

AN ISLAMIC businessman from Nailsworth has spoken out against the horror of terrorism, saying the attack on innocent Americans could never be sanctioned by a true Muslim.

M Khurshid Akhtar explained how Islam, like Christianity, is a religion based on love and understanding, not fear and violence.

"There is no place in Islam for terrorists and hate," he said.

"Islam actually means peace and submission to Allah, or God.

"How anybody can claim all these things that are happening in the world are done in the name of Islam I really don't know."

He said the Quran clearly stated innocents should not be harmed and indeed it was the duty of any true Muslim to protect them, regardless of their religion.

"This conflict is not about religion, it is about power, politics and personalities," he said.

"People are simply using religion as a weapon, those in power are all trying to gain superiority.

"I don't believe any religion in the world allows you to kill innocent people."

The just response to tragedy in America would be to track down the people who are responsible and bring them in front of a court of law, he claimed, not launch revenge attacks on Afghanistan or any other target.

"We all want to be on the side of right and fight against wrong," he said.

"It is easy to look for revenge but we have to put humans first," he said.

*For full story see this week's News & Journal.