Muslim leaders who attended Istanbul conference condemn associating Islam with terrorism

Islam is a religion of peace therefore associating it with terrorism and violence is unacceptable, Muslims leaders attending a conference in Istanbul said on Tuesday.

The third edition of the African Muslim Religious Leaders Summit saw the participation of academics, ministers and religious leaders from 51 countries

Ali Erbaş, head of Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs, read out a joint declaration at the final day of the four-day event.

"Portraying Muslims, who follow the religion of mercy, as the perpetrators of violence and identifying Islam with terrorism is a perception operation which stems from evil intentions and dirty ambitions and is never acceptable," he said.

It is obvious that dirty interests and insidious global structures are backing Boko Haram, al-Shabaab, Daesh and similar terrorist organizations that emerged in Islamic geography and are engaged in violence and terrorism, the declaration added.

It went on to say that Africa has a rich and deep-rooted pluralistic Islamic culture which can build a better world where love, tolerance and togetherness is plentiful.

The declaration said Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), the group behind the 2016 defeated coup bid in Turkey, is targeting African Muslims and trying to maintain its presence on the continent.