Oyo, May 04: Muslim students under the aegis of the Muslim Students Society, Lead City University, Ibadan chapter, have warned terrorists to stop hiding under Islam to foment trouble.
They said terrorism, both domestically and internationally, negated the tenets of Islam.
The society’s President, Mr. Afeez Lawal, made the call on Monday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, at a news conference heralding the group’s 2010 Dawah (Islamic Preaching) Week.
Lawal commended Acting President Goodluck Jonathan for his efforts that led to the removal of Nigeria from the United States’ terror list, asking him not to look back until the war against terrorism was won.
He said that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the country’s image was projected rightly through positive behaviour.
He said his group was concerned about the negative perception being given Islam and Muslims all over the world with many people erroneously regarding them as terrorists or potential terrorists.
This, he added, informed the decision of the MSS to choose the topic of the opening conference of the Dawah Week as “Towards a terror-free society: Need for mental transformation.’’
He said, “There is a need for mental change because different acts of terrorism domestically and internationally are given undue affiliation with Islam of which the perpetrators are striking against the Islamic doctrine.”
Lawal said that terrorism was against the teachings of Islam.
“We, Muslim students and progressive Nigerians perceive terrorism as a criminal act against humanity. So, if anybody hides under the Islamic religion to terrorise the community, such person must be brought to book,” he added.
On the programme for the 2010 Dawah Week, he said the opening conference would be on May 8, with the National Missioner of NASFAT, Alhaji Abdullahi Akinbode, as guest lecturer.
-Agencies