True Islam teaches peace, not violence, leaders say at forum

Islamic leaders in China urged Muslims not to fall into the trap of religious extremism and vowed to improve their guidance to help believers stay on the peaceful path of Islam.

"War and violence are never seen as holy in Islam. The extremists' theories of going to heaven after killing and treating non-Muslims as enemies are just not among the teachings," said Ma Guangyue, imam of Laowang Mosque in Gansu province, at an international forum on eliminating religious extremism on Thursday.

About 100 Islamic leaders and scholars from China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan participated in the two-day forum held in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The forum started on Wednesday.