Attempts to Spread Islamophobia Fuel Extremism: Iranian Diplomat

Iran’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Morteza Sarmadi deplored comments by a US presidential candidate who called for banning Muslims from entering the US, stressing that the West’s attempts at fomenting Islamophobia will only invigorate terrorism and extremism.

“Islamophobia in the West will not help the fight on terrorism,” Sarmadi said Wednesday, in a meeting with Finland’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka in Tehran.

Decrying the recent comments by US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, the Iranian diplomat added, “Such remarks are gifts for extremist groups who will be able to recruit members with propaganda.”

Trump had on Monday called for blocking Muslims, including would-be immigrants, students, tourists and other visitors, from entering the US following a shooting spree in California by two individuals who authorities said were radicalized.

Elsewhere in the meeting, Sarmadi warned that terrorism is not confined to a specific region and could plague the whole world.

For her part, the visiting Finnish minister voiced concern that terrorism and extremism have spread into Europe, describing them as threats to the whole world.

She also called for concerted action by all countries to counter terrorism.