United States President Barack Obama on Wednesday said he was seeking to rebut the "inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim-Americans" in the country. Without referring to any particular person or party, Obama said there was a warped image of Islam in the country and encouraged members of the faith to speak out against terror, reported CNN.

Addressing the Islamic Society of Baltimore during what was his first visit to a mosque in the US, Obama reiterated his commitment to freedom of religion and asked his countrymen to show that America truly protects all faiths, reported PTI. "As we go forward, I want every Muslim American to remember that...your fellow Americans stand with you. You are not Muslim or American. You are Muslim and American," Obama said.

The president also asked television writers and producers to create more rounded Muslim characters on their shows. “Our television shows should have some Muslim characters that are unrelated to national security because it’s not that hard to do,” he said. “There was a time when there were no black people on television. You can tell good stories while still representing the reality of our communities,” he added.