Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad addressed participants at an Islamic conference focused on terrorism, stating that terrorism must be condemned by all Muslims only after a clear and comprehensive definition is established, as killing innocent people is not Islamic. He asserted that any attack on civilians is considered terrorism, and countries that support such behavior are also terrorists. Mahathir added that when terrorism is state-sponsored, the entire government of that country should be condemned. However, no religion or ethnicity should be blamed or discriminated against for the wrong actions of others from the same religion or ethnicity. He further stated that the terrorists responsible for the September 11 attacks are mistaken in their beliefs about holy war or jihad, and their actions harm both Islam and their own ideals. Nevertheless, it should not be forgotten that they are so angry and frustrated that they easily sacrifice their own lives in carrying out such horrific acts. The international community must understand that merely punishing these individuals will not end the difficulties; what is effective is finding the reasons behind such anger and failure. Mahathir mentioned that one reason for this anger is the growing gap between the rich and the poor over the years. He considered the recent violence in the Middle East as one of the main factors contributing to these failures. Many leaders of Muslim countries are dissatisfied that Western leaders criticize Palestinians for suicide attacks while failing to condemn Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians. They believe that the definition of terrorism has only been provided by a few Western countries and cannot be a comprehensive definition. It is expected that participants at this conference will strive to reach a comprehensive definition of terrorism and call on the international community to hold an international conference to discuss a global strategy against terrorism. Additionally, participants are set to issue a separate statement condemning the recent Israeli attacks on the offices of Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader.
Malaysian Prime Minister Condemns Terrorism - 2002-04-02
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad condemned terrorism at an Islamic conference, emphasizing the need for a clear definition of terrorism and criticizing Western perspectives. He highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of anger and frustration in the Muslim world, particularly the socio-economic disparities and ongoing violence in the Middle East.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad condemned terrorism at an Islamic conference, stressing the need for a clear definition of terrorism and addressing root causes of anger in the Muslim world. He criticized Western perspectives on terrorism and called for a comprehensive international approach.
- Mahathir emphasized that killing innocent people is not Islamic and condemned state-sponsored terrorism.
- He highlighted socio-economic disparities and violence in the Middle East as contributing factors to terrorism.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The discourse on terrorism often varies significantly between Western and Muslim perspectives, with many Muslim leaders arguing that socio-economic factors and political grievances must be addressed to combat terrorism effectively.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%