KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 — PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang has lashed out at critics of an Islamic parade in Setiu, Terengganu last week where his party’s Youth members dressed in warlike costumes and brandished replica weapons, calling them "Islamophobes”.

The Marang MP claimed these were the same people who make Islam to be a fearful religion, Berita Harian reported yesterday.

"Why are they so afraid of Islam? They are Islamophobes, with their allegations, accusations and slander.

"They are afraid of Muslims carrying wooden swords, but it’s right for the enemies of Islam to use nuclear weapons, which is forbidden in Islam.

"While Muslims carrying wooden [replica] swords are not allowed,” he was quoted as saying in a speech in Ampang last night.

Abdul Hadi was also reported saying it was regrettable that people have been influenced by the narrative of fear.

"Unfortunately there are people who are influenced as if Islam is scary. The success of Islam is not with the use of weapons, but justice and wisdom,” he was quoted as saying.

The parade or Himpunan Pemuda Islam Terengganu in the east coast peninsula state last Friday was part of a two-day PAS Youth gathering.

Photos showing some of the parade goers dressed in either long white robes or grey attire with bright green scarves wrapped around their heads and carrying wooden swords, spears and replica shields reminiscent of Islam in the Middle Ages sparked criticism on social media.

Terengganu PAS Youth have defended the parade, insisting that it was not meant to incite violence but was more like a cosplay event.

Islamic Affairs Minister Datuk Na’im Mokhtar has since acknowledged that the participants’ warlike costumes could give a misleading impression of Islam.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also weighed in and said the costumed parade in an open area was inappropriate and could create uneasiness among the public.