The imam of Lisbon's Central Mosque, Sheik David Munir, admitted on Sunday (25) that he finds it "very difficult" to see an exemplary Islamic country, especially in the area of human rights, one of the pillars of Islam.

"In theory, the Islamic regime is based on tolerance, mercy and equality. [...] But the question is that, in Islam, from the outset, to tell you the truth, I find it very difficult to see an exemplary Islamic country. In everything. In human rights and, above all, in valuing others," said Sheik Munir.

In an interview, the imam stressed, however, that the Islamic regime has enshrined the rights of equality, freedom of expression, freedom of belief and tolerance.

"It's up to the caliph, who no longer exists, the emir, to implement. He has to be willing to listen to various opinions (...) in the assembly of people, the wise or the most knowledgeable or the leaders, those who have the freedom to give their opinion," he explained.

David Munir gave as an example the case of democracy, when, in elections, one party wins elections democratically with an absolute majority, which allows it to "do and undo", without giving the other political forces represented in Parliament a chance.

"In Islamic countries, we have militaries and we have dictators and we have people who want power and don't want to leave it. When there is even the slightest opening to the possibility of a civilian government, there are always coups d'état. This is the Islamic world today, where democracy doesn't enter. This is how it is, even if the person wants [to change], it doesn't last long," he argued.

For Sheik Munir, nowadays in Islam anyone who speaks out against the regime is considered un-Islamic, a situation he regrets.

"People's opinions are valid until they can prove that they don't go against the basic principles of Islam. But on the other side, what happens these days, in general terms, anyone who gives a different opinion to that of the leader or the party in power, doesn't stand a chance," he said.

"If it's a slightly more peaceful country, that's fine, it has its space, but there are people who suffer reprisals, put their lives at risk, you can't say anything, you can't say anything. This has nothing to do with Islam," he added, admitting that this is how extremist movements such as the Islamic State group, the Taliban or Al Shabbab have emerged.

"Lack of knowledge, wanting power at all costs, some influence from the West as well to create a certain instability, in short, if you mix all this together, you get a good meal. In the Islamic world, or in some Islamic countries, when someone suffers politically, socially and economically, when they lose everything, they have no reason to live, then a certain anger is created psychologically, a certain hatred towards those in power. On the other side comes a group that uses Islam and says it will maintain justice or equality. They give some hope to the person who has lost almost everything and they end up aligning themselves with some hope. But then they also see that they are no different from anyone else," he explained.

However, in Munir's opinion, those who suffer most from Islamic terrorist groups "are the Muslims themselves".

"Life is sacred to all of us. But since there are Muslims who don't agree with their idea and their philosophy, they've become enemies too," he says.

"Unfortunately, we have several groups, several 'lone wolves' on the loose and, when a group is stopped, broken up, each one does what they can, as far as they can, to maintain the politics, the philosophy, the idea, the ideology of the group, and they often try to influence the other," said the imam.

"Lack of knowledge means that people join without knowing why. And when they start studying, when they start reading, they open their minds and discover that it's not quite like that. And when they open their minds, when they start to confront the leader or leaders, they're pushed aside," he explained.

Asked which Muslim countries live under a democratic regime, Sheik Munir admitted to having "some difficulty in answering", since, although he has lived in many countries, he has not resided in any Muslim state, as he has always lived in Portugal, "in the West".

"What I know about Islamic countries is what we know from the news. However, in the countries I've visited, of which there have been many, in practice I haven't noticed what I'd like to see. Justice, equality, the economic and social side. We have very, very rich people or we have very, very, very poor people. One of the pillars of Islam is obligatory charity, 12.5%. If everyone gave, we would greatly improve the situation of the neediest. But the rich want to get richer and the poor are going to get poorer. This inequality is social, but it's also Islamic," he explained.

Admitting that there is still a lot to be done to pacify Islam as a whole, Sheik Munir pointed out that "the little groups, groups, leaders and congregations" who want to impose radicalism because their reading of Islam is very limited, are not open to dialog with others, even if they are Muslims.

"This means that the process has to move slowly. In some cases there have been steps forward and then backwards and that's a bit complicated," he concluded. (cnn)