Muslim cleric to talk at local convention

UNITED KINGDOM-based Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdur Raheem Green will visit Jamaica in the coming days.

The sheikh is to be the main speaker at an Islamic convention, scheduled for May 14-15, at the Red Hills Road-based mosque in St Andrew.

"There is a misconception that Muslims are terrorists. Sheikh A.R. Green will be talking about suicide bombings, and the historical existence and growth of Jesus Christ while he was on Earth," leader of the Masjid As-Salaam mosque told The Gleaner last week.

He said the objectives of the convention include unifying the nation in peace and harmony and correcting what Shafiqul Islam said is a misconception that Muslims are violent people.

"Islam does not approve terrorism. Islam says if you kill one person, you kill the whole mankind, and if you save one person, you save the whole mankind," Islam said.

The Masjid As-Salaam has invited religious leaders islandwide, members of the diplomatic corps, and government ministers to the convention.

"It is not a convention to teach anybody, we are going to break the barrier," said Islam.

Green was brought up as a Roman Catholic and embraced Islam in 1987. Since that time he has been giving lectures all over the world.