RELIGION IS TOOL AGAINST TERRORISM

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Clear and indepth understanding of
religion can prevent youth from being duped by terrorist groups, suggest two
local lecturers.

The dean of HELP University's Faculty of Behavioral Sciences, Prof Goh Chee
Leong said some terrorist organisations used religion to lure youth who had no
clear and indepth understanding of their religion.

He told Bernama there was a need for youths to get connected with those from
other countries, religion and cultural backgrounds to create a better
understanding.

"The international community needs to ensure that youth keep in touch
with other youth groups through schools, universities or cultural interchange
programmes or via internet networking and pen pal programmes.

"These would bring them together and have a better understanding of each
other's religion, culture and other differences.

"If 25 per cent of Americans travel to the Middle East and make friends with
the locals, do you think they still support their government's plan to declare
war on Iraq?", he asked.

Earlier, Goh had presented a paper on 'Psychological Perspectives on
Terrorism' at the International Conference of Youth on Terrorism here Friday.

Meanwhile, Prof Dr Abdul Rashid Moten of the International Islamic
University's political science faculty, said the international community,
especially the youth should understand that religion was not the cause of
terrorism.

Although a small percentage of Muslims, Hindus, Christians and other
religious groups were involved in terrorist organisations, the majority who
understood their religion did not believe in the terrorist methods of
violence, he said after presenting his paper on 'Trends and Perspectives on
Terrorism'.

"No religion in this world teaches violence or asks their followers to
become terrorists, suicide bombers, assassins or murderers.

"Religion is a source of peace, unity and brotherhood which teaches people
to respect each other, not compelling anybody to do what they don't want to do,"
he said.

Dr Abdul Rashid said however, there were unscruplous people who used verses
of the holy books on the need to protect oneself and religion, out of context
for selfish purposes and to propagate terrorist acts.

-- BERNAMA