By Ibrahim Bah AbdulRahman, GNA
Tema, June 01, GNA – The Tijjaniya Muslim Movement of Ghana (TMMG) has exhorted religious leaders to do more to eradicate terrorism groups, urging them to come together to fight and drive out terrorism.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema, Alhaji Khuzaima Mohammed Osman, the Movement’s Executive Secretary said religious leaders were important in countering terrorism because of their unique position of authority, credibility, and ties with the community.
He said interfaith groups were required to strengthen the ability of communities to resist forms of extremism by addressing community needs through collaboration, interfaith engagement, and solidarity.
According to him, terrorism was not a battle between different faiths, or different sects, but the battle between barbaric criminals who seek to obliterate human life, and decent people of all religions stressing that “the fight against terrorism is a battle between good and evil.”
Alhaji Osman indicated that fighting terrorism was a collective effort and advised religious leaders to disassociate terrorism from religion emphasizing that “through corrective interpretation of dogma, formal, and informal religious curriculum and preaching, terrorism can be prevented.”
He warned religious leaders that inaction on their part would bring suffering, death, and despair, stressing that “religious leaders must mobilize to take the lead in stamping out radicalization.”
Alhaji Osman acknowledged the fact that society perceived most victims of terrorism as Muslims, however, Islam was one of the world’s most peaceful religions.
He also dismissed Islamists as the foot-soldiers of evil, with no religious legitimacy, effectively putting a distance between Islam and the ideology that fuels terrorist groups like Boko Haram, Al Shabab among others.
GNA
