Obama: Religious Acceptance Key to Combating Extremism

President Barack Obama told world leaders on Thursday that promoting democracy and acceptance of people of all faiths are essential to stopping the spread of violent extremism.

“Groups like al Qaeda and [ISIS] peddle the lie that some of our countries are hostile to Muslims. Meanwhile we’ve also seen, most recently in Europe, arise inexcusable acts of anti-Semitism, or in some cases anti-Muslim sentiment, or anti-immigrant sentiment,” Obama said at the closing session of a White House summit on combating extremism. “When people spew hatred towards others–because of their faith or because they’re immigrants–it feeds into terrorist narratives.”

{snip}

The president also said stability requires democratic governments and that oppressing groups upon sectarian lines fuels the hatred that creates terrorism. The Sunnis alienation from the Iraqi government was a major factor that led to the rise of ISIS.

“When people are oppressed and human rights are denied, particularly along sectarian lines, or ethnic lines, when dissent is silenced, it feeds violent extremists,” Obama said.

{snip}