LAHORE: Terming killing of innocent people against the teachings of Islam, the Pakistan Ulema Council has appealed to the youth not to join such extremist organisations like Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which promote violence.

The council has decided to approach the great Darul Iftas (institutions for issuing religious decrees) and leaders of the Muslim world to present a unanimous opinion on the situation of the world in general and the situation of Iraq and Syria in particular for Muslim people and youth.

Asking the Muslim rulers as well as the international community to consider the factors that lead to forming of organisations like the Islamic State (formerly ISIS) and inducing the young people to adopt the path of violence and extremism, the council quoted atrocities by Bashar al-Assad and his father Hafez al-Assad in Syria and by the rulers of post-Saddam Hussein Iraq as the factors behind the current expression of violence by Muslim youths.

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“Heinous atrocities were committed by Bashar al-Assad and his father, Hafez al-Assad, against the people of Syria and the rulers who came to power in Iraq after the ouster of Saddam Hussein’s regime discriminated against people on sectarian grounds. The followers of a specific Muslim sect were not given justice or rights and were constantly treated in a brutal way (in Iraq). These are the factors due to which organisations such as the IS are formed and gain popularity among the public.”

Asserting that dialogue is the solution to all global issues, whether they are inter-faith or inter-sectarian problems, it said when governments adopt the path of violence people are forced to follow suit, raising tensions across the globe.

The council believes that there is no room for extremism and terrorism in Islam and no group or individual can be given the authority to kill innocent people. Likewise, the PUC believes that leaders of any country do not have the right to kill their opponents, or make their lives difficult on the basis of religion or sect.

Council Chairman Hafiz Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi formed the opinion on the IS after seeking and carefully studying the point of view of media representatives and Muslims in Islamic and European countries.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd , 2014