Daesh doesn’t represent Islam, Iraqi PM says

Muslims have suffered the most by far from Daesh’s terrorist attacks, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Saturday.

Addressing the Munich Security Conference, al-Abadi warned against anti-Muslim prejudice due to the horrific crimes by the terrorist group.

"This terrorist ideology does not represent Islam,” he stressed.

"Because it caused the death of many, many Muslims in our Arab areas. Much much more than those who have been killed elsewhere around the world,” he added.

Daesh’s presence has recently been purged from Iraq -- by Iraqi forces and a U.S.-led military coalition -- after the terrorist group overran much of the territory in northern and western Iraq in 2014.

Al-Abadi also thanked Kurdish Peshmerga forces for their significant role in defeating Daesh.

“We owe them a lot for the victory,” he said.

The premier also praised the support of Iraq’s neighbors in the fight against terrorism.

“In our foreign policy we succeeded in gaining backing and support,” he said.

"And we are very keen to bolster these contacts, relationships with our neighbors on the basis of respecting national sovereignty and mutual interests, without interfering in internal affairs,” he added.