IS perverting Islam to justify agenda: White House

WASHINGTON: Terror outfits like the ISIS are “perverting” Islam to justify their “murderous, false agenda” as part of which they claim the mantle of the religion to describe themselves as “holy warriors” fighting with the US, the White House has said.

“What is true is that many of those organisations pervert the religion of Islam to justify their murderous, nihilistic agenda. The President has said that on many occasions. He’s been very blunt about what those organisations are trying to do,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters at his daily news conference on Monday.

“What they’re also trying to do is to claim the mantle of Islam to describe themselves as holy warriors, or religious leaders, engaged in a conflict with the US.

“They’re wrong about that. That is a false agenda. That is a myth. That is not true. And this administration and the previous administration have gone to great lengths to debunk that myth and make clear that these organisations are seeking to perpetuate a perverted form of Islam,” Earnest said in response to a question.

His comments came a day after a self-radicalised Afghanorigin youth killed 49 people in Orlando at a gay nightclub.

He added that America’s “partners in the Muslim world are critical to our success in degrading and ultimately destroying ISIL”.