The recent kidnapping of hundreds of Nigerian school girls by Islamic extremists is a “disgrace” to Islam, the executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Thursday.
“It’s absolutely something that we of the American Muslim community and Muslims worldwide condemn because it’s not something that represents our faith,” said Adam Soltani.
The Islamic militant group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility.
“This group, Boko Haram, is doing something that is completely antithetical to the teachings of the Islamic faith and the Islamic faith traditions,” said Soltani.
He predicts the kidnappings by the small group of Muslim extremists will negatively impact the perception Americans have of all Muslims.
“It does have a slight effect on people’s perceptions (of) the religion, even though that’s (Boko Haram) a very small minority of people, less than even probably .5% of the worldwide population, which is about two billion Muslims worldwide, so it definitely doesn’t represent Oklahoma Muslims,” said Soltani.
Unconfirmed reports have said the girls are being sold as brides for $12 each.