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DAMASCUS, May 23 (Bernama) -- Malaysia wants the Muslim community to stress that the West should not confuse the words and deeds of a small number of extremists, who operate within the fringes of Muslim societies, as a reflection of Islamic culture.

In making the call, its Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman, however, said Muslims themselves should correctly portray the identity of Islam by renouncing extremism, eradicating radicalism and stopping all sectarian violence.

This, he said, could be done because Islam could tap into its own rich intellectual tradition and directly challenge the extremist doctrines which had become linked, quite unjustifiably, to this great religion.

"Muslim leaders and scholars must be instrumental in reviving fully the true spirit and the true teachings of Islam," said Anifah when addressing the 36th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) which opened in the Syrian capital Saturday.

Stressing that the truth must prevail that Islam abhorred and condemned terrorism in all its forms, the foreign minister said the world must be made to realise that Islam stood for peace and was not the source of intolerance between peoples of different faiths.

Anifah held talks with Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Al Otri soon after his arrival in Damascus Saturday to lead the Malaysian delegation at the three-day CFM meeting, under the theme "Promo... >>>