Saudi U.N. envoy: ISIS, Al Qaeda taint Islam’s image

Groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Al-Qaeda and Hezbbollah taint the image of Islam, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United Nations said on Friday.

Speaking at a United Nations Human Rights Council meeting addressing the rights of minorities in the Middle East Abdallah Al-Mouallimi said that Houthi militias and Hezbollah were forcefully imposing their will.

Islam is a religion of tolerance, he said adding that the oppression of religious minorities is a blatant contradiction of Islam and its teachings.

As to minority right abuses, Al-Mouallimi said fighting terrorism and establishing international justice are basic tenets in the fight against violations.