Obama: Islamic State Group Pursues 'Brutal' Actions in the Name of Religion

Barack Obama, the President of the United States, accused the Islamic State group on Thursday, February 5, of pursuing brutal actions in the name of religion. He condemned the 'hijacking of religion' to achieve 'savage' goals. According to the Associated Press, during a speech at the annual gathering of politicians, religious leaders, and government officials known as the 'National Prayer Breakfast', Obama called on believers to push back against those who seek to distort religion. He stated that recent violent events in France, Pakistan, and other parts of the world demonstrate that religion and belief can be used as a weapon. Obama's remarks referenced the killing of 16 people during last month's attack by extremists on the offices of the satirical magazine 'Charlie Hebdo' and a Jewish store in France, which left 20 dead. He also referred to the attack by extremist militia forces on a school in Pakistan last December that resulted in the deaths of 130 students. According to the report, among the participants at the 'National Prayer Breakfast' was the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. The U.S. President stated that the Dalai Lama is a powerful example of acting in service of 'compassion'. Obama's meetings with the Dalai Lama have repeatedly drawn criticism from the Chinese government, which claims that the Dalai Lama is a separatist who seeks independence for Tibet. At the National Prayer Breakfast, 3,600 national and international political and religious figures were present. The Associated Press noted that hundreds of people gathered outside the hotel where the annual National Prayer Breakfast was held, holding Tibetan flags. The Dalai Lama, during his three-day visit to Washington, intends to hold discussions and speeches between Buddhists and Muslims on peaceful coexistence. It is also expected that prominent American Muslim figures will meet with Ayatollah Ali Sistani, a prominent Shia cleric and figure in the Islamic world. Last year, in his annual speech at the National Prayer Breakfast, Obama strongly criticized China, stating that the country has not been successful in preserving freedoms. King Abdullah II of Jordan was also supposed to attend this meeting, but the release of a video by ISIS claiming to have 'burned alive' the pilot of this country caused him to cut short his trip to Washington and return to his country.