British Muslims Unite To Condemn 'Evil' ISIS

British Muslims have united to "vehemently condemn" the militant group ISIS.

In a meeting in the Palace Of Westminster, leaders from Sunni and Shia denominations from cities across the UK agreed that the Islamic State was "un-Islamic".

In a joint statement they also expressed "grave concern" at the repeated attacks by ISIS on shrines and places of worship in Iraq.

The group of senior Muslims declared: "We vehemently condemn such threats that are abhorrent to all Islamic values and principles, and cannot be considered as representative of any denomination within Islam.

"Acts of violence and brutality committed by ISIS are un-Islamic and barbaric."

Maulana Shahid Raza, founder trustee of the British Muslim Forum and one of the most influential Sunni Muslims in Britain, opened the meeting saying: "Today I am here to express our solidarity with our Shia brothers.

"The British Muslim Forum brings together 600 Sunni mosques and we are united in this solidarity. What is happening in Iraq we condemn with the utmost force."

The Shia chair of the meeting, Sayed Yusuf, told the group: "We are facing the forces of evil who want to tarnish the good name of Islam."

He added: "Our statement is very powerful; that all Muslim organisations condemn ISIS. We as British Muslims must be ambassadors of peace worldwide."

"At the moment we don't have enough women speakers. We need to encourage our young women to come forward. They are good peacemakers."

The meeting comes amid fears that up to 600 British Muslims may have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight alongside rebel groups including ISIS.

Father Nadeem Nasser warned: "A culture of death is spreading in the name of Islam."

He expressed concerns this violence would drive other religions from Islamic countries.

He said: "If Christianity left the Middle East it would give the impression that Islam is a religion that cannot live with another."

Maulana Mohammed Madni, Chairman of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board, concluded the meeting by saying: "In Mosul, there are women being raped by people saying they want an Islamic state. This is ISIS and this is not Islamic, it is only corruption."