President Barack Obama emphasized Thursday the importance of balancing the right to free speech with respect for religion, chastising groups who have committed acts of terror in the name of faith.
Obama called on those in attendance to “push back against those who would distort our religion for their nihilistic ends,” pointing to the actions of the “death cult” Islamic State, as well as the terror attacks in Paris and school massacre in Pakistan, during remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.
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“They also understood the need to uphold freedom of speech,” he added, “that there was a connection between freedom of speech and freedom of religion. For to infringe on one right under the pretext of protecting another is a betrayal of both.”
