Rouhani: ISIS Has Tarnished Islam's Image

TEHERAN - Muslims must rebuild Islam's global reputation as it has been ruined by so called Islamic State (ISIS), says the Iranian President, Hassan Rouhani. Muslims need to restore the image of Islam because so called Islamic State is presenting it as a religion of "killing and violence", the Iranian President has said.

Rouhani also said muslim countries had been silent in the face of all the killing and bloodshed in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

In a broadcast on state television, the president said it was "our greatest duty today to correct the image of Islam in world public opinion". The comments are unusual for an Iranian leader, although Mr Rouhani has made improving relations with the West a feature of his presidency.

In his address, Mr Rouhani said, "Did we ever think that, instead of enemies, an albeit small group from within the Islamic world using the language of Islam, would present it as the religion of killing, violence, whips, extortion and injustice?"

He said Islamic principles opposed violence and he added that the extremism of groups such as so-called Islamic State came from "narrow-mindedness and a lack of moderation".

Crucially for the region, Iran has been involved in broad talks on how to restore peace to Syria and tackle the problem of IS. Iran supports Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and has condemned IS.