There was still a tendency to stereotype Muslims as barbarians in the wake of the US attacks, but this badly misrepresented Islam and Muslims, Mr Alsuleiman said yesterday.
Islam, like all other religions, in fact, emphasised the need to respect and tolerate one another, and to live in peace.
"We want people to understand us."
There were criminals in many faith traditions, including, more recently, the Norwegian gunman Anders Breivik.
In some cases, people were effectively seeking to usurp the role of God by trying to decide who would live or die.
"It's a big problem when the student puts himself in the position of the teacher."
Mr Alsuleiman, who lives in Sydney, took part in an Interfaith Dialogue event on "The Concept of God" at the University of Otago last night.
Mr Alsuleiman is in Dunedin to take part in Islam Awareness Week, which has been organised by the Muslim University Students Association.
