Chief Imam: stop thinking about Muslims as violent people

09.09.2008, 14:02

Ildar Muhhamedchin, Chief Imam of the Islamic Congregation in Estonia, says that mass media is to blame for depicting Islam as a violent religion.

Speaking in the breakfast show of ETV, the Imam said that Islam was actually a very peaceful religion.

“The reason why Islam has been shown as a violent religion by the mass media is that many troubles in the world are taking place in Muslim countries.

“This leads many to believe that Islam is a violent culture, but when people make a closer study of our religion they will understand that it is actually a religion of peace,” said the Imam.

BBN reported yesterday that representatives of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi have asked the City of Tallinn to provide land for building an Islamic religious and culture centre in Tallinn including a mosque.

Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the third largest emirate of the United Arabian Emirates, plans to build the first Islamic centre in Estonia.

The plan was unveiled in March by Jamal Al Taraifi, Director General of Sharjah Secretariat General for Auqaf during a meeting with visiting Muft of Estonia Eldar Muhammed Shun.

Al Tarifi said the centre will be built in coordination with the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

Estonian Security Police KAPO has said earlier that Musims were becoming more active in Estonia and that there was an increase in the number of Muslims were trying to come to Estonia to work and residence. “The problem is that they then bring their families, don't want to learn Estonian language and remain a closed community which is usually centred around the mosque, not to mention that they may become a radical ethnic group,” said a security police official.