Ghannouchi criticizes West’s stance on Islam

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet Daily News

Tunisian leader Rached Ghannouchi. AA photo

The West still has difficulties recognizing Islam as a divine religion, Tunisian leader Rached Ghannouchi said during his speech at the U.N.-led Alliance of Civilizations forum in Istanbul on June 1.

“Islam recognizes all the divine religions. However, the West is having difficulties in recognizing Islam as a divine religion. The symbols of Islam are being assaulted. However, if we want to create a world where one loves each other we certainly have to recognize and accept each other,” Ghannouchi said.

Criticism over Syria

Ghannouchi, the leader of the Enhanda Movement in Tunisia, also harshly criticized Russia, China and Iran for their policies on Syria. “There is a need for an international embargo in order to stop the massacres [in Syria]. You are talking about forming an alliance with Russia, China and Iran in order to be able to stop this [massacre], however, the Syrian people are being broken into pieces, destroyed and all these civilizations you are talking about are just watching this, in fact they are supporting it,” Ghannouchi said.