Austria’s imams gather to deliver their message against extremism: ‘These terrorists misuse our peaceful Islam religion to reach their political goals.’

Around 300 imams in Austria have signed a declaration calling ISIS the “black sheep” of the Islamic faith and called for fellow Muslims to take a greater role in society.

The Islamic Religious Community of Austria (IGGÖ) signed the declaration against “extremism, violence and terror” in Vienna which “holds that atrocities of the IS terrorists are contrary to Islam and must be condemned most severely”.

“These IS terrorists misuse our peaceful Islam religion to reach their political goals,” it added. Around 180 imams who signed gathered outside a mosque in the city to unfurl a banner saying “United against extremism and terror”.

​IGGÖ President Ibrahim Olgun said in a speech that “a religion that stands for peace cannot have fundamentalist, terrorist or radical features” and that the Islamic faith was “polluted” by the actions of violent extremists.

The declaration said: “We, the Austrian imams, will continue to do everything they can to maintain peaceful coexistence here in Austria as part of this society.

“Nothing will stop us from using ourselves for peace, freedom, justice, equal opportunities for men and women, and social security based on reason and solidarity, and to make our active contribution to the preservation of society.”

Source: The Independent