EUROPEAN IMAMS COUNTER ONLINE EXTREMISM
London, 7 Jumadil Akhir 1436/27 March 2015 (MINA) – Scores of imams from across Europe converged in London to condemn the atrocities falsely committed in the name of Islam, urging Muslims worldwide to retake the “digital space from those who wish to tarnish their faith”.
“We are reclaiming the online space, but we need absolutely everyone to get involved in this effort,” Qari Asim, senior editor of Imamsonline.com and contributor to ‘Haqiqah’ magazine, was quoted by IANS news agency on Thursday, March 26.
“So this is a call to log on, get informed, and share the magazine with all your friends and family online,” he added On Islam quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.
Asim is one of over 120 Imams attended the anti-extremism summit in the British capital and released a digital magazine to promote the true face of Islam, Asian Lite daily reported.
The summit came as a direct response to the increasing threat of radicalization among young Muslims.
Leading the way, the imams launched a new digital magazine targeting the Muslim youth.
“The magazine ‘Haqiqah’ which translates as ‘The Reality’ is aimed at young people and will counter the extremist narrative used by groups such as ISIL,” Shaukat Warraich, chief editor of Imamsonline.com, an organisation providing a voice for Islamic religious leaders, and host of the Imams Online Digital Summit, said.
Aiming to deliver a clear and positive message for readers, the new magazine is developed with contribution from Imams and scholars, offering young Muslims information that can be easily shared across social media.
“We’re turning the tide — though we still have a way to go, we know that by taking efforts to support and mobilize the huge online Muslim population we will eventually drown out the violent voices,” Warriach said.
British Muslims are estimated at nearly 2.7 million.
Last month, British PM David Cameron disclosed that British citizens travelling abroad to take part in the conflict in Syria and Iraq could be prevented from returning to the UK under a new Counter Terrorism Bill.
Under new “exclusion orders” announced by Cameron, suspected fighters would be barred from returning to Britain unless they agreed to be placed under strict controls.
Rights groups criticized the new proposals as being unjust and warned they were pushing Britain into becoming a “police state”.
UK Muslims would also face arrest upon returning back home from the conflict areas in the Middle East.
Reflecting British government’s double-standards, a growing number of British mercenaries have been traveling freely to Syria and Iraq to join the fight against ISIL. (T/P011/P3)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
