Dalai Lama: Dialogue is the only way to defeat ISIS

The only way to defeat an enemy is by building a friendship according to the Dalai Lama.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Updated: DECEMBER 7, 2015 14:56
Dalai Lama and ISIS (photo credit: REUTERS)
Dalai Lama and ISIS
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Dalai Lama told the Italian daily La Stampa in an interview on Monday that the only way to defeat ISIS is through dialogue.
The Tibetan spiritual leader expressed his belief that Islam is a religion of peace explaining that "those who are intolerant damage their brothers."
The Dalai Lama explained that the only way to defeat an enemy is by working towards the building of a friendship. He said the only way to defeat the Islamic State is to befriend them "through dialogue. You have to listen to understand and have respect for others. There is no other way."
Pope Francis earlier this week also expressed the importance of dialogue and not judging all of Islam based on those who have radicalized the religion while speaking to the press following a visit to the Central African Republic 
"One cannot write off a religion because there are some groups -or sometimes many groups - of fundamentalists," he explained.
"How many wars, and not only wars of religion, have we Christians waged? The Muslims were not responsible for the sack of Rome," he stated. "[Muslims] have values, and these values are constructive ... we can dialogue with them."