"Turkish imams' EU peace move
Helena Smith in Ankara
Wednesday January 12, 2005
The Guardian
More than 1,000 moderate clerics have been dispatched to European countries by Turkey, the only Muslim candidate member of the EU, in a drive to promote modern and peaceful interpretations of Islam.
Some 700 imams have already been sent to Germany, and there are plans to send many more across Europe. None have so far been sent to Britain.
'Our mission is to explain Islam as a source of peace and friendship and certainly not as a tool for violence,' said Ali Bardakoglu, who heads Turkey's directorate of religious affairs, or diyanet. "
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