KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 — Islamophobia, the term used to describe dislike or fear of Muslims and Islam, is based on misconceptions and slanders created to mask the true beauty of the religion, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang said today.

The PAS president said the ongoing war in Western Asia has clearly shown that Islam is the real victim although the religion is repeatedly demonised as being synonymous with acts of terrorism.

“This so-called Islamophobia today is really slanders against Islam.

“It is not the priests who are being killed but the mosques that are being bombed,” he said in his speech at the opening of Multaqa Serantau Alumni Al-Azhar Malaysia 2015, a forum on Muslim unity held at the Grand Seasons hotel here.

Hadi added that Islam prescribes clear guidelines that forbid the killing of innocent people during war.

He said that there are many stories that there are many examples in the Islamic faith that shows the religion is not one to be feared.

“The hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad prohibits the murder of women, children and the elderly.

“The Prophet also forbids the murder of priests, diplomats and monks,” he said.

Hadi, who is also Marang MP, later said that Malaysia does not need foreign advisers as it was enough to use teachings in the Holy Quran to guide the country.

The Federal Constitution should also be interpreted in accordance with religious principles and not be tailored to suit the appetites of man, he added.

“We don’t need advisers from the east or the west. We only need their knowledge. We can take their knowledge but not their advice,” he said.