DUBAI (Reuters) - Iranian President Hassan
Rouhani said on Sunday that Muslims must
improve the image of their religion, which has
been tarnished by the violence of hardline groups
such as Islamic State,
"It is our greatest duty today to correct the image
of Islam in world public opinion," Rouhani told a
conference on Islamic unity in Tehran in a speech
broadcast by state television.
His remarks were rare for a leader of Iran, which
considers itself an authority in the Islamic world
and often blames the "enemies" of the religion for
problems in the Middle East.
"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?" Rouhani said.
Rouhani, a relative moderate, said Islamic
principles opposed violence and the extremism of
groups such as Islamic State stemmed from
"narrow-mindedness and a lack of moderation".
Rouhani criticised Muslim countries for "being
silent in the face of all the killing and bloodshed"
in Syria, Iraq and Yemen - conflicts in which Iran
plays a role.
Iran supports the government of Syrian President
Bashar al-Assad, has close ties with neighbouring
Iraq, and condemns the Islamic State group which
fights both governments.
The Islamic Republic is also an ally of the Houthi
movement which seized control of most of Yemen
last year and has fought a military coalition led
by Saudi Arabia for nine months.