Muslim Leaders Issue Collective Rebuke Against ISIS; Video Shows Militants ‘Chatting Casually’ With Turkish Guards

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By Reissa Su
REUTERS/Umit Bektas
A black flag belonging to the Islamic State is seen near the Syrian town of Kobani, as pictured from the Turkish-Syrian border near the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province, October 6, 2014. A black flag belonging to Islamic State was visible from across the Turkish border atop a four-storey building close to the scene of some of the most intense clashes in recent days. REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Muslim leaders from around the world have issued a collective statement against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. According to the Catholic Herald, more than 100 Muslim leaders including laypeople have signed an open letter condemning the acts of ISIS militants. The 17-page letter contained quotes from the Qur’an to illustrate how ISIS’ behaviour goes against the teachings of Islam.

Since the open letter was released by the Council on American-Islamic Relations in the United States, more than 125 Muslim clerics including those from Arab countries. The letter condemned the treatment of Arab Christians who were given the choice to convert to Islam or be put to the sword. Reports said ISIS militants had painted their homes red and destroyed their churches. Many Christians had died for refusing to convert while others had fled to escape persecution.

The Muslim leaders said Christians were not “combatants against Islam.” They should be treated as “friends, neighbours and co-citizens” of Muslims. From the legal point of view of Sharia or Islamic law, the rulings of jihad do not apply to Arab Christians, the clerics declared.

 ISIS was also rebuked for killing civilians, “emissaries of truth” like the journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, “emissaries of mercy and kindness” like aid worker David Haines. The Muslim leaders have denounced such acts as “unquestionably forbidden.” The letter also mentioned ISIS’ crimes like the enslavement of women, mass killing of Yazidis and coercing or torturing children to take up arms. Muslim leaders accused ISIS of giving the world “a stick with which to beat Islam” even if their religion prohibits such acts of violence.Meanwhile, the Daily Mail reports that a video has recently surfaced containing amateur footage of ISIS militants “chatting casually” to a group of Turkish guards at the border near the Syrian city of Kobane. The heavily armed militants were even seen smiling and waving at the camera. Reports said the purported video raises questions about seemingly relaxed relationship between ISIS and Turkish officials.

Although the video was uploaded only recently in YouTube, the footage was reportedly filmed on Oct. 22. The video is yet to be verified. Claims of injured ISIS militants being smuggled in Turkish hospitals for treatment have circulated as speculations continue about the video. Previous reports indicate that Turkey had allowed 3,000 militants to rejoin ISIS in exchange for 49 diplomat hostages.


(Source: YouTube/SazzyMazzy9)

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