Misinterpretation of Islam may lead to violence: Mahathir

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, October 23, 2003

Misinterpretation of Islam may lead to violence: Mahathir

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that the misinterpretation of basic Islamic teachings has prompted some Muslims to commit violent acts.

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Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that the misinterpretation of basic Islamic teachings has prompted some Muslims to commit violent acts.

"They wrongly interpreted the teachings. I called on them to go back to the basic teachings of Islam," Mahathir was quoted Thursday by The Jakarta Post as saying.

He said people had interpreted and misinterpreted Islam for hundreds of years, resulting in many different perspectives.

"I follow the basic teachings of Islam and they are all good," Mahathir said in an interview with TV7 on Wednesday.

Some Muslim scholars had earlier said that misinterpretation of jihad (holy war) had contributed to an increase in violence.

The Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the United States two years ago and the Bali bombings last October have led to a worldwide war against terrorism, which some say has tarnished the image of Islam.

Malaysia, like Indonesia, is home to a huge Muslim population, upholds a moderate branch of Islam and has shown a determination to fight terrorism.

Malaysia has arrested a number of Muslim hard-liners under its Internal Security Act while Indonesia has brought to justice those involved in a series of bomb attacks in the country.

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