US Ambassador Beatrice Wilkinson-Welters does not owe the Muslim community of this country any apology as she has done no wrong and took a responsible position in condemning an American-based film which demoralised Islam, says vice-president of the Inter Religious Organisation (IRO) Imam Haji Abzal Mohammed.

Mohammed, who is also a member of the Mediation board, met with Wilkinson-Welters on Tuesday when he reassured that local Islamic groups promoted peace and not violence.

The anti-Islam film, entitled Innocence of Muslims, has sparked outrage from the Muslim communities globally, leading to the deaths of US nationals, including the US Ambassador in Libya.

United States President Barack Obama has condemned the film, as well as American ambassadors around the world, including Wilkinson-Welters.

However, local Muslim Umar Abdullah told the media last Saturday that the US Embassy in Port of Spain was under threat and demanded an apology from Wilkinson-Welters.

Yesterday, in a telephone interview with the Express, Mohammed condemned Abdullah's statements, saying he was not the voice of the Muslim community.

"I totally disagree with the statements and the mentality of Umar Abdullah ... he does not speak for the Muslim community.

"Muslims in Trinidad and Tobago are very peaceful people, but you will always find the odd ones with different attitudes," said Mohammed as he pointed out that there are three main Islamic organisations in this country that all work in harmony.

"The US ambassador does not have to make an apology because she hasn't done anything ... the person who is responsible for that film and the embarrassment he caused to the United States, I am sure will be dealt with," said Mohammed.

"We shouldn't want to storm embassies and kill innocent people, that is jungle law and not what the Prophet teaches," he added.

Wilkinson-Welters, he said, has been a friend to the Muslim community since she arrived in this country.

"She has been working very closely with the Muslim community in this country since her coming, where, every year during the month of Ramadan, she invites Muslims to her residence for iftar dinner," said Mohammed.

He added that because of Wilkinson-Welters' efforts, she was able to get Obama to send experts to to work with the Muslim communities here.

He said on one occasion an Islamic scholar came and engaged with the Muslim community and on another occasion a Pakistan-born American woman came and interacted with the Muslim women.

Mohammed lamented the violence and attacks which occurred in other countries in response to the film.

"In other parts of the world Muslims go to a mosque and after praying strap themselves with a bomb and kill innocent people and figure that is a form of jihad but that is jungle life, that is not civilisation.

"We should keep our peace and pray and ask God our Almighty to give us strength," said Mohammed.

He said the Prophet Mohammed was a man of peace and this was reflected in his teachings.

"The Prophet himself during the first 13 years in Mecca had difficulties with his tribe ... he then migrated to Medina and when he went back to Mecca he forgave the people who persecuted him, he did not seek revenge.

"Islam itself means peace, why must we behave in such a way and have innocent people losing their lives.

The Trinidad Muslim League (TML) had also distanced itself from the threatening statements made by Abdullah.

"As a responsible organisation that holds strongly to the teaching of Prophet Mohammed (upon whom be Peace) we cannot condone actions that result in the killing of innocent human beings," the TML stated.