Supporters of Violence Fail Anti-Terror Leadership, Says Rouhani

New York– President Hassan Rouhani said those who encourage violence are not entitled to lead the coalition against terrorism and urged the world community to join the people of Iraq and Syria in their fight against the terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Daesh).

Addressing researchers and reporters at the New America Foundation in New York on Wednesday, he also cautioned that Daesh cannot be eradicated by military action and that any fight against extremism will succeed only in accordance of international norms and rules.

In his opening remarks, he called for assisting the governments of Syria and Iraq to safeguard their sovereignty and national unity and to guarantee the success of the fight against terrorism saying that international action was required to stop transfer of arms and funds to terrorists.

The president lashed out at the countries that supported terrorist groups in Syria and are now trying to meet their ends through the use of force which he said was “neither plausible nor helpful“.

“Those who planted the seeds of violence, infringed the rights of peoples and resorted to force in facing complex political and social issues, are not entitled to lead the coalition against the terrorist groups.”

Rouhani who is in New York to take part at the 69th UN General Assembly session also criticized Western countries for adopting double standards to secure their interests and said, “The West has to acknowledge that the moderate Islamic current is part of the (Middle East) region’s reality which cannot be stopped by suppression. Further suppression results in harsher extremism.”

Responding to a comment by the New America moderator FaridZakaria who said there were similarities between Rouhani’s statements and the speech of the US President Barack Obama at the UN General Assembly opening, the Iranian President said there was an imperative to focus on the real threats of violence and extremism.

Every leader in the world, he added, agrees that violence cannot be disregarded although some may have differences on the ways to combat it.

Rouhani also criticized US officials for supporting certain terrorist groups in Syria in the fight against the Daesh terrorists and asked, “Based on which people’s permission, law or international mandate have you decided to do this? The people of Syria should be in the scene and make the decision.”

Rouhani urges American ulema on unity, true Islam

On the other hand,  President Hassan Rouhani has urged Islamic scholars as well as the community leaders to endeavor for the unity among Muslims and spread the compassionate messages of the religion of Islam.

In a meeting with American Muslim dignitaries and Islamic community leaders on Wednesday, he warned of attempts by the enemies of Islam to sow discord by forging terrorist moves under the guise of religion and jihad (holy war).

“The Islamic Revolution in Iran launched the Islamic Awakening across the Middle East. Therefore, some people tried to mar the image of Islam to impede this movement,” he said.

The president who is in New York to attend the 69th session of the UN General Assembly also said the anti-Islam attempts in Iraq and Syria under the pretext of jihad which aim at introducing it as a violent religion will not accomplish.

“Fortunately, everybody will little by little understand that they have false claims to be Muslims. Those who were deceived and joined the terrorist groups are gradually waking up.”

President Rouhani cautioned that there was a long way to go through the plots and called for prudence so that no new machinations will be be hatched on the way of Islam and the Islamic civilization.

He referred to his speech at the 2013 UN General Assembly in which he suggested the World Against Violence and Extremism and said the proposal was unanimously welcomed by the global community.

“Muslims have always been the flag bearers of compassion and illumination. We should not permit others to falsely carry the flag,” he added.

The president of Iran also said that the Islamic Republic has no intentions of interfering the fate of any country. “The Islamic Republic of Iran does not plan to interfere in Iraq and Syria either, but will help them based on their demands.”

“If any country asks us for combating terrorism, we will help them against violence and terrorism within our might,” he said stressing that Iran was the first country to help the people of Iraq against Daesh terrorists.

IRNA

R.S