It is a time of concern and fear for Muslims across US: Barack Obama

Washington Acknowledging that across the US it is a time of concern and fear for Muslims US President Barack Obama today reiterated his commitment to freedom of religion and asked his countrymen to show that America truly protects all faithsThe best way to fight terrorism is to show the US does not suppress Islam and refute lies to the contrary Obama said in his historic address to Muslim community from a mosque in Baltimore Maryland In his first visit to a mosque inside the US Obama referred to the recent political rhetoric against Muslims in the country where Christians are in majority and said that the Americans cannot be silent bystanders to bigotry against any faithBarack Obama PicAFPI know that in Muslim communities across our country this is a time of concern and frankly a time of some fear Like all Americans youre worried about the threat of terrorism but on top of that as MuslimAmericans you also have another concern and that is your entire community so often is targeted or blamed for the violent acts of the very few Obama said in his address to the Muslim American communityAn attack on ones faith is an attack on all our faiths Obama said as he mentioned recent attacks against Muslim community and also cited those of SikhAmericans who looks like them Americans must speak up when any group is targeted he added We have to respect the fact that we have freedom of religion he said At the same time the US President asked the Muslim community to reject extremism and terrorismPushing back at critics who say he should talk about Islamic terrorists he said that We shouldnt play into terrorist propaganda As we protect our country from terrorism we should not reinforce the ideas and the rhetoric of terrorists themselves Obama said adding that groups like Islamic State militant group are desperate for legitimacyWe must never give them that legitimacy he said In an apparent reference to recent political rhetoric he opposed the idea of religious profiling Engagement with Muslim Americans communities must never be a cover for surveillance he added As we go forward I want every Muslim American to remember thatyour fellow Americans stand with you Obama said and assured the young Muslim Americans You are notMuslim or American You are Muslim and AmericanMuslim political leaders have to push back on the lie that the West represses Muslims Obama told the Muslim community leaders This is not a clash of civilisations between the West and Islam he said and asked AmericanMuslims to show theyre faithful to Islam and also part of a pluralistic society in the USObama called for global pressure to end the fights between Muslim sects that produces so much bloodshed We are one American family We will rise and fall together Obama said as he concluded his 45minute speech on the outskirts of the US CapitalIn his firstever visit to a US mosque as the president Obama told MuslimAmericans that US will be their partner to help them promote pluralism and peace Many Americans only hear about Muslims and Islam from the news after an act of terrorism or in distorted media portrayals in TV or film all of which gives this hugely distorted impression Obama saidReferring to recent attacks on Muslim Americans Obama said since 911 but more recently since the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino they have seen too often people conflating the horrific acts of terrorism with the beliefs of an entire faithAnd of course recently weve heard inexcusable political rhetoric against MuslimAmericans that has no place in our country No surprise then that threats and harassment of MuslimAmericans have surged he said Here at this mosque twice last year threats were made against your children Around the country women wearing the hijab just like Saba have been targeted Weve seen children bullied Weve seen mosques vandalized SikhAmericans and others who are perceived to be Muslims have been targeted as well Obama saidObama said for more than 1000 years people have been drawn to Islams message of peace Like so many faiths Islam is rooted in a commitment to compassion and mercy and justice and charity Whoever wants to enter paradise the Prophet Muhammad taught let him treat people the way he would love to be treated The worlds 16 billion Muslims are as diverse as humanity itself he saidCiting the contribution of MuslimAmericans to the US he said that keep the country safe Muslim Americans are some of the most resilient and patriotic Americans youll ever meet he said