Hell yeah it is. I've no doubt he's also been told that to his face more than once, by those who'd do the deed themselves.
The problem with Islam is that there really is only one teaching. The so-called fanatics follow all of it, while the so-called moderates pick and choose the sane parts.
There's no good end to it, until some Imam modifies the Koran by cutting out the killing. For which the punishment will be death, of course.
The “moderates” are often dangerous .
They may become “fanatic” and anyway they are waiting the demographic time-bomb .
TAQYA they call that ie LIES