Barbaric acts of terrorism such as James Foley’s beheading coupled with a lack of education on the true meaning of Islam are fuelling a sense of Islamophobia, according to a number of Muslims living in Malta.

However, most Muslims living in Malta admitted they have not personally experienced any pejorative remarks or attitudes from Maltese people.

Imam Mohammed Elsadi, the Muslim spiritual leader in Malta, said an element of Islamophobia could be detected in the comments posted below online articles.

However, he had not received any reports in the past few weeks from Muslims complaining of being on the receiving end of negative behaviour from Maltese people. The Maltese, he said, were a tolerant and peaceful people.

“Islam shouldn’t be judged through the negative practices of terrorists but according to the teachings of the Holy Koran and the tradition of the prophet Mohammad.”

Islamic State (Isis) extremists, he added, were causing extreme harm to the reputation of Islam and Muslims. Muslims wholly condemned such barbaric acts and did not consider groups such as Isis to be Muslim.

His comments are echoed by Ahmed Ashraf, the president of the Arab-Maltese community, who has been living in Malta for the past 23 years.

More on Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.