Russia shaping negative image of extremists using Islam for their goals - Naryshkin
MOSCOW. Sept 3 (Interfax) - State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said that he disagreed with those who speak about the formation of a negative image of Islam in Russia.
"I will disagree on one thing, that a negative image of Islam is taking shape in Russia," Naryshkin said at a meeting of the Council of Non-Parliamentary Parties which was held in the State Duma on Thursday. He gave this response to leader of the Young Russia party Nikolai Stolyarchuk's statements, citing his trip to Dagestan and speaking about the concerns voiced by the clergy of this republic regarding "the negative image of Islam which is forming in Russia and the whole world."
Naryshkin replied that "the negative image of extremism and those forces which use Islam for the purposes of ultra-extremism is actually shaping" in Russia.
As for the actual religion, the State Duma speaker said that "Islam is a peace-loving religion."
"We do not have another position," Naryshkin said.
