Islam distorted by a few extremists, Obama

MUMBAI - Islam is a great religion but there is a need to isolate those who have distorted its vision, US President Barack Obama told a huge gathering of college students here Sunday.

“We recognise this great religion…This great religion, in the hands of a few extremeists, has been distorted….One of the challenges we face is how we isolate those who have distorted its vision,” he said at the St Xavier’s College.

“It is a major challenge in India and around the world…” Obama said.

“Jehad has lot of meanings… but it is subject to lot of interpretations. More than a billion people in the world practice Islam. It is a great religion and symobolises peace, justice, fairness and tolerance,” Obama said when a student asked what his take on jehad was.