New York Muslim Imams Denounce ISIS

Taroudant, Morocco – Following Muslim imams and scholars based in the UK that condemned the “oppressive and tyrannical self-styled Caliphate,” Muslims in New York have in turn launched a campaign, led by the Islamic Leadership Council, to denounce the rise of extremist groups, particularly Daesh or ISIS, also known as the Islamic State.

According to a statement from the Islamic Leadership Council, which represents about 60 congregations and Muslim community organizations in New York, the Council calls on ithe mams of the mosques to focus on the true message of Islam and to denounce extremism during Khutba (a sermon regularly given after the congregation prayer on Friday).

In addition to a social media campaign “to fight recruiting attempts by extremists,” the same source said that many mosques in the city will “host open houses next month aimed at increasing people’s understanding of Islam.”

“Our ultimate goal is to raise the level of awareness in a way that helps to inoculate the Muslim community against cries and appeals from elsewhere calling Muslims to violent extremism,” said Imam Al-Hajj Talib ‘Abdur-Rashid, president of the Islamic Leadership Council.

With the growing threat posed by the Islamic State, the whole world is coming together to face the danger posed by the radical group.

Last month, German Muslims rallied together during the Jumuah prayers, a congregational prayer that Muslims hold every Friday, to protest against ISIS jihadists and denounce the barbaric atrocities committed by the group, which “has nothing to do with Islam and Muslims.”

With the growing threat of the Islamic State and its attempts to recruit young people from Europe, a group of influential imams and scholars based in the UK issued a Fatwa or religious edict early last month, prohibiting British Muslims to fight alongside ISIS extremists in Iraq and Syria.