So many non-Muslim authorities in the West who see clearly and easily that what the Islamic State does has nothing to do with Islam: Barack Obama, John Kerry, David Cameron, Philip Hammond, Tony Abbott, and so very many others — now including James Brokenshire. Why do so many young Muslims from the West, including hundreds from Britain, misunderstand what these non-Muslims understand so well? Can James Brokenshire perhaps take a trip to Mosul and explain to the Islamic State how they’re misunderstanding the Religion of Peace?
“Aid worker murder ‘nothing to do with Islam,'” AsianImage, September 15, 2014:
The brutal murder of British aid worker David Haines has “nothing to do with Islam”, the Immigration Minister has said.
James Brokenshire condemned the killing at the hands of Islamic State and called for more people to speak out against extremism as he met community leaders at a mosque in Barking, east London.
He said: “Faith institutions such as the Al Medina Mosque demonstrate how people are at their best when we work together. It is clear from the many activities and donations from across the UK that many of us feel the plight of the Syrian people.
“We are also unified in our condemnation of the atrocious acts of brutality which we have seen unfolding in Iraq and Syria. We stand together in condemning terrorism and extremism but also in being clear that these have nothing to do with Islam or any other faith.
“As the Prime Minister said, the root of these actions lies in a poisonous political ideology that a small minority support. In contrast, Islam is a religion which is observed peacefully and devoutly by more than a billion people.”
Islamic State militants released a video over the weekend showing the beheading of Mr Haines. The footage also featured British hostage Alan Henning with a threat that he would be the next to be killed.
Mr Brokenshire said it was “heartening” to see how many people were making clear that these acts were “alien” to religion.
He urged people to join the social media campaign #notinmyname, adding: “It is so important that these voices are heard and that they are joined in solidarity by many more.”