British Muslim leaders have expressed grave concern at the recent announcement of the so-called Islamic “Caliphate” by al-Qaeda-offshoot group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), condemning the violence committed in its name.
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“ISIS does not represent the main Sunni Muslims' ideology,” Maulana Shahid Raza, of Leicester Central Mosque told Sky News.
"They are involved in acts of terror and violence, they are involved in destructing and demolishing the Muslim shrines...We condemn it."
Raza was speaking at a meeting at the Palace of Westminster which gathered leaders of Sunni and Shiite groups in the UK.
Attendants have deplored ISIL militant group, asserting that it does not represent the majority of Muslims.
Last June 30, ISIL made a surprise announcement of the establishment of a new Islamic “caliphate” and changed its name into the Islamic State.
The declaration was made in an audio recording distributed online in which ISIL declared its chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi “the caliph” and “leader for Muslims everywhere”.
Following the announcement, the al-Qaeda offshoot group told other Sunni rebel groups which joined the uprising in Iraq to swear an oath of allegiance and give up arms.
“Violence has no place in religion, violence has no religion,” Shuja Shafi, of the Muslim Council of Great Britain, said.
"It is prohibited for people to present themselves for destruction."
The Westminster Palace meeting is not the first for UK Muslims against ISIL.
Last month a n open letter signed by more than 100 imams from across major theological backgrounds and cultural groups urged British Muslims not to travel to the war-torn regions.
The letter called on communities ''to continue the generous and tireless effort to support all of those affected by the crisis in Syria and unfolding events in Iraq'', but to do so ''from the UK in a safe and responsible way''.
The statement comes following the appearance of two British men, one as young as 17, on a recruitment video for the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), who are attempting to establish an Islamic state in Iraq and Syria.
In the video, the men call for more Britons to come to Iraq and Syria to take up arms with ISIS.
The video revived worries expressed earlier by Prime Minister David Cameron who said that foreign fighters in ISIL posed “the biggest threat” to UK national security.
"The number of foreign fighters in that area, the number of foreign fighters including those from the UK who could try to return to the UK is a real threat to our country," he said.
Discouraging youth from joining the fight, mosques across the UK launched a campaign to encourage people to help Syrians through charities regulated by the Charity Commission, instead of going to the countries to help directly.
Another Walk for Syria event was scheduled next July 19, to raise funds for Syrian people by Muslim Hands charity group. /SR
