Terrorism is harming Islam: Turkish parliamentary speaker

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek. AA Photo

Terrorism is harming Islam the same way it is harming people in our region, Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek said Dec. 25.

Çiçek made the remarks during his meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and his delegation in the Turkish capital of Ankara.

“Deplorable and displeasing incidents are occurring in our region,” Çiçek said.
He also gave his condolences to al-Abadi over the death of around 50 people in an explosion in Baghdad Dec. 24.

Çiçek said Muslims were being killed in terrorist attacks that also tarnished the name of Islam. He added that some countries and societies were now wrongly linking Islam with terrorism in the world.

“Terrorism does not have an identity, a religion, ethnic origin or country,” he said.

He called on all Muslim countries to take a strong stance against terrorism to protect Islam’s image around the world.

All terrorist organizations commit crimes against humanity, he added.

He called on the international community to cooperate more in the fight against terrorist organizations. He warned that new terrorist threats and organizations would emerge if there was not more cooperation.