Ahlul Bayt News Agency ; Gambian President Yahya Jammeh on Monday said Islam is not a religion of violence and that true Muslims are noble and honorable.
President Jammeh, a stanch Muslim himself, made the remarks during his annual traditional meeting with Banjul Muslim elders at State House in the Gambian capital Banjul.
He also used the forum to speak against Terry Jones in the United State who vowed to burn the Muslim holy book Quran.
"The people in the West. I want to send you a message. The message is that Islam is the best religion, and that there would be no other prophet after the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)," said the president.
He said there is a lot of double standards in the West. "Your security cannot be guaranteed by fighting Islam. We Muslims will defend our religion with our blood, and we will never be intimidated," said Jammeh.
President Jammeh stressed that he has never seen any demonstration where the holy Quran is being burnt. "Any country that allows any copy of the holy Quran being burnt, Bilahi Walahi Talayi, you will regret it," he declared.
The Gambian leader asked if denying the holocaust is crime, then why not caricaturing the holy Prophet of Islam.
He further noted that such an action could endanger world peace, warning that anyone who plays with it would surely pay the price.
Insulting any religion is not freedom of expression, neither is caricaturing the holy Quran, he said.
"Caricaturing the holy Prophet (SAW) is unacceptable, and we will not accept it and there would surely be consequences. If you want your security respected then respect the security of others; if you want to be dignified, respect the dignity of others," he added.
The Gambian leader made it clear that Islam has nothing to do with the Sept. 11 World Trade Center bombing. Muslims, he stressed, do not commit suicide.
He blamed those who claimed to be Muslims and rally behind the religion in the name of Jihad to terrorize innocent people, describing such people as Kafiri (unbelievers).
Jammeh said he has given powers to the Gambia Supreme Islamic Council to deal with "those troublemakers."
"We are true Muslims, and that is why we live side by side with Christians," he said.
Intolerance, he said, would not be accepted in the country, and does not care what the international community will say.
End item/ 129