United States President Barack Obama has said the US and its allies are not at war with Islam but with people who have perverted the religion, asserting that groups like the Islamic State and Al Qaeda are desperate for legitimacy by portraying themselves as holy warriors in defense of religion.   

"We are not at war with Islam. We are at war with people who have perverted Islam," Obama said at the White House Summit on 'Countering Violent Extremism', yesterday.   

"ISIL and Al-Qaeda and groups like it are desperate for legitimacy. They try to portray themselves as religious leaders, holy warriors in defense of Islam.   

"That's why the ISIL presumes to declare itself the Islamic State and they propagate the notion that America, and the West generally, are at war with Islam. That's how they recruit. That's how they try to radicalise young people," he said.   

Obama said those outside Muslim communities need to reject the terrorist narrative that the West and Islam are in conflict or modern life and Islam are in conflict. We must never accept the premise that they put forward, because it is a lie, nor should we grant these terrorists the religious legitimacy that they seek. They are not religious leaders, they're terrorists," he said on the second day of the three-day conference, which is being attended by leaders from more than 60 countries including India.