IS video condemned by Imams Council as 'polarising' and against Islamic teaching
Updated
A recent IS video threatening three Muslim leaders has been condemned by the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC), which it said proved the terrorist group was not representative of their Islamic faith.
The 25-minute video, entitled Fight The Leaders of Disbelief, pictured three Australian Muslims leaders — Sheikh Shady Al-Suleiman, NSW Police Chaplain Sheikh Ahmed Abdo and Australian Grand Mufti Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed — as "collaborator, informers and apostates".
The leaders pictured in the video were criticised for discouraging violence and for making statements that Muslims must obey and respect the laws of the land in which they live.
ANIC said in a statement that those who tried to "monopolise the Muslim faith with extreme views would never represent mainstream Islam".
"Atrocities committed in the name of Islam will only polarise Muslims further and are not a part of Islamic teachings.
"ANIC urges the Muslim community to adhere to the correct and mainstream teachings of Islam and Islamic law."
ANIC stated its members would continue to be at the forefront of tackling extremism, condemning terror groups and rejecting violence.
The three Australian leaders are active members of the community and have publicly condemned IS.
Sheikh Shady Al-Suleiman and Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed are involved in inter-faith work to help build bridges between the Muslim community and others to tackle racism and increase understanding of Islam.
As a police chaplain, Sheikh Ahmed Abdo works with officers and with Muslim youth, part of his work aiming to dissuade people from joining IS.
Sheikh Shady responded to the issue on Facebook, saying he was "unconcerned" about threats made against him.
"Many Australian Imams, including myself, have publicly denounced and preached against the hateful and murderous teachings of ISIS, stating publicly on countless occasions that the ISIS way is not the Islamic way," he wrote.
"I thank all those who had shown support and solidarity during these difficult times, especially when we are getting caught in between extremism from different ends."
A voice in the IS video called the three Australian leaders "traitors" and claimed they were "sitting in air-conditioned rooms attacking the mujahideen and supporting the polytheists".
The IS video also mentioned other international Islamic scholars who have condemned terror groups and debunked their claims for war.
Topics: terrorism, community-and-society, islam, australia
First posted
