Shedding light on Islam’s excellent teaching with regards to the treatment of non-Muslims and the freedom of speech and expression, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, may God be with him, said:
The Holy Quran repeatedly mentions beautiful teachings of Islam pertaining to good conduct with the non- Muslims, the safeguarding of their rights, fairness and justice with them, freedom of their religion, and no coercion in matters of faith, etc. There are many such directives relating to both Muslims and non-Muslims. Indeed, fighting is also permitted in certain situations. It is permitted only in the event that the enemy initiates (a fight), breaches pacts, is brutally unjust or oppressive. Even in these circumstances, no group or party of a country has the right, rather, it is up to the government to decide what to do and how to end the oppression. It is not up to any and every Jihadi organization to rise, and to take up the task.