“The notion that the West is at war with Islam is an ugly lie, and all of us regardless of our faith have a responsibility to reject it,” Obama said in a speech at the Summit on Countering Violent Extremism in Washington, DC. “All of us have a responsibility to refute that groups like ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant] represent Islam because that is a falsehood that embraces the terrorist narrative.”
The White House organized the three-day summit following a recent wave of deadly attacks carried out by radicalized Muslim extremists in Europe and the Middle East, and individuals from the US and Europe leaving to join terrorist organizations like the Islamic State (IS) and Al Qaeda.
The White House organized the three-day summit to discuss domestic and international efforts to prevent violent extremism and terrorism. The summit covers key issues related to extremism, including radicalization, recruiting and motivation to commit violent acts, according to the White House.
