Islam fastest growing faith in US: Clinton

WASHINGTON, Jan 11: President Bill Clinton has said that Washington's policy of fighting terrorism is directed at actions of individuals and groups indulging in violence and not Islam, the fastest growing religion in the United States, reports PTI.

"Our policies are guided by our profound respect for Islam. The Muslim religion is the fastest-growing faith in the United States (the number of Muslims in the US is put at 5 to 6 million)," Clinton said in a report to the US Congress on Sunday.

"We recognise and honour Islam's role as a source of inspiration, instruction and moral guidance for hundreds of millions of people around the world. US policy in the (Mid East-South Asia) region is directed at the actions of governments and terrorist groups, not peoples or faiths."

This year, not only the president but also the vice president issued an Eid Day message, in what analysts said was an indication of the importance the administration attaches to the growing popularity of Islam.