Taroudant, Morocco- A group of young British Muslims launched a campaign to reject the Islamic state, whose acts of violence in recent weeks has sparked international denunciation.
Following the murder of David Haines, the latest in a series of violent murders committed by the Islamic state, the campaign was launched to urge Muslims in Britain to denounce the acts of ISIS carried in the name of Islam.
Led by Active Change Foundation, a foundation for charity based in London, the campaign #NotInMyName is launched to raise awareness against the brutality and dangers of the ISIS, calling on Muslims to stand against this group, which is “damaging Islam and Muslims”.
On the campaign’s promotional video posted on YouTube, a veiled girl said, “The ISIS does not represent Islam or any Muslim.”
[video id="wfYanI-zJes" type="youtube"]“We must reunite together and try to stop this group from damaging Islam and Muslims,” she added. Hanif Qadir, founder of Active Change Foundation said: "The murder of an innocent man has no justification in any religion or walk of life.
"Young British Muslims are sick and tired of these hate terrorists of the Islamic state and their proliferation on social networks. They are angry that these criminals use these platforms to radicalize the youth and showcase their violent speech in the name of Islam," he added.
To express their disapproval of ISIS, a group of young British Muslims has joined the campaign by posting their photos on social media networks holding placards that read #NotInMyName.
Proud to see this campaign #NotInMyName pic.twitter.com/6yMIowMaqb
— Victoria Park (@victoriaparke3) September 18, 2014
British Muslims send a clear message to #IS #ISIS sectarian murderers -- #notinmyname pic.twitter.com/i84K9jDQ1h — Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaGeoNews) September 17, 2014
Many social media users responded to the campaign. They posted tweets saying that ISIS or IS does not represent them nor does it exemplify Islam with the hashtag #NotInMyName.
#notinmyname This is not Islam, Islam is beautiful and we also hate what do these
— ONE (@talalsaadii) September 17, 2014
Another tweet reads
Islam does NOT promote nor condone terrorism. ISIS #NotInMyName
— Alhamdullilah (@FLAKSSSSSS) September 16, 2014
With the growing threat of the Islamic State and its attempts of the IS to recruit young people from Europe, a group of influential imams and scholars based in UK has issued early this month a Fatwa, religious edict, prohibiting British Muslims to fight alongside ISIS extremists in Iraq and Syria.
The Muslim imams and scholars condemned the “oppressive and tyrannical self-styled Caliphate,” IS, formerly known as Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, stressing that, in line with the Islamic teachings, it is Haram (prohibited) for British and European citizens to fight with any side in Syria.