Local Muslim community distances self from ISIS

Sep 18, 2014 News

Guyana Islamic Trust, which claims that it is acting on behalf of the Muslim Community of Guyana, has strongly denounced the actions of the group known as ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham/Islamic State Group).

Members of the Islam State of Iraq and Shaam (Isis) with senior commander Abu Waheeb

According to the GIT, the dreadful actions of this group and similar groups such as Boko Haram whose origin, existence and operation are for the most part shrouded in mystery, in no way represents the pristine and beautiful teachings of Islam.
“We reject their ghastly actions and heinous crimes which are done in the name of Islam, casting a dark image upon Islam and Muslims. However, their abomination does exactly the opposite of what Islam calls upon Muslims to do, namely establish peace and justice and safeguard human rights and dignity. We therefore categorically condemn the actions of this group and its monstrous crimes against humanity,” the GIT said in a statement posted on its website.
Based on reports in the media, ISIS has committed horrific atrocities, including attacks against different religious and ethnic communities in Syria and Iraq who have lived peacefully for centuries alongside Muslims.
The GIT said that ISIS has caused nothing but destruction and corruption and has violated core Islamic teachings and principles such as the sanctity of human life and the importance of treating others with dignity, respect and tolerance.
“Therefore, we implore all Muslims to denounce this deliberate perversion of our faith and to dissociate themselves totally from such dangerous groups who intentionally use the name of Islam in their ongoing campaign of distortion and destruction. We also call upon all our friends, neighbours and fellow Guyanese to stand with the local Muslim Community in condemning the horrendous crimes of these extreme groups and not to judge Islam and Muslims by the actions of a few misguided and deviant miscreants,” the GIT stated.
ISIS started as an al Qaeda splinter group and is led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Its aim is to create an Islamic state across Sunni areas of Iraq and in Syria.
The group is known for killing dozens of people at a time and carrying out public executions, crucifixions and other acts. It has taken over large swaths of northern and western Iraq.
The group currently controls hundreds of square miles. It ignores international borders and has a presence from Syria’s Mediterranean coast to south of Baghdad. It rules by Sharia law.
ISIS’s initial strategy for revenue was through extortion and robbery.
Recently, al-Baghdadi’s strategy shifted to generating resources through large-scale attacks aimed at capturing and holding territory.