Muslim organisations in India launch campaigns against Islamic State

New Delhi: Slamming Islamic State for “un-Islamic” acts and “undermining the basic tenets” of the faith, several Muslim organisations in the country have launched campaigns against the terror group, saying it was trying to justify its violence by distorting Islamic symbols and history. [caption id=“attachment_2449600” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] Muslim organisations have held meetings in places like Delhi, Jodhpur, Kozhikode and Lucknow to urge Muslim youths to refrain from associating with Islamic State, which they said was involved in un-Islamic activities resulting in the killing of thousands of innocent victims. According to a Home Ministry report, in Kerala, Ittehadul Subhanil Mujahideen had organised a state-level conclave in Kozhikode on 20 September under the banner of ‘Youth Movement Against IS Terrorism’, which was inaugurated by its president, TP Abdulla Koya Maudani. In his address, Maudani called for united efforts to counter the proliferation of the ideology of the Middle East terror group, asserting that the outfit was justifying terrorist actions by distorting Islamic symbols as well as history. Islamic State was distorting ideologies related to ‘Jihad’ and ‘Khilafat’, Maudani explained, and added that Sunni and Shia “extremism” would only lead to destruction of the Muslim community. Separately, chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Kerala, MI Abdul Aziz said at a press conference in Kozhikode earlier this month that terrorist activities of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria were un-Islamic as well as a challenge to society. He said that the claims of Islamic State with regard to the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate were “fake”. His organisation also held several meetings at other places in Kerala highlighting the atrocities committed by Islamic State. The Rajasthan unit of Jamiat Ahle Hadees had organised a youth conference in Jodhpur on 13 September against terrorist activities of Islamic State. Speakers at the conference urged youths to refrain from associating with ISIS which they said was involved in un-Islamic terrorist activities. Also, Syed Zainul Abedin Ali Khan, Dargah Dewan, Dargah Sharif, Ajmer, said at a press conference on 19 September that the entire world should unite against Islamic State, which was undermining the basic tenets of Islam. In Delhi, Islamic State was criticised by several Muslim outfits at a ‘Peace Conference’ held at India International Centre on 17 September. In Uttar Pradesh, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahli, Imam, Eidgah Aisbagh, Lucknow; executive committee member, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, issued a ‘fatwa’ on 9 September against Islamic State, saying the outfit was involved in un-Islamic activities in killing innocent people. PTI