The statement also blamed the USA, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait for "fuelling the flames" in strife-torn Syria and Iraq.

A section of Indian Muslims from different walks of life came together on Tuesday to condemn the violence being perpetrated in the name of Islam by jihadist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) against minorities in Iraq.

Terming the brutalities of the ISIS “worse than genocide”, Shabnam Hashmi from ANHAD told the media during a press conference that Indian Muslims were shocked and pained by the brutality being perpetrated by the ISIS against Christians, Shias, Kurds, Yazidis and other minorities in the regions now under their control.

“We strongly condemn such barbarism which is against the teachings of Islam. We express our heart-felt sympathies and solidarity with the survivors of those whose near and dear ones have been mercilessly butchered, and the tens of thousands of Iraq’s minorities who have been dispossessed, forced to flee their homes and are now living in extremely difficult circumstances,” added Ms. Hashmi who was joined in her condemnation by Navaid Hamid of the Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians and John Dayal, former president of the All India Christian Council. They also issued a statement which was signed and endorsed by more than 80 Muslim intellectuals, activists and religious leaders condemning Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed Caliph of the Muslim world for claiming that he was acting in the name of Islam.

“It is of utmost importance to highlight here that ISIS not only conducts atrocities against minorities, but against everyone who is against their policies, all in the name of Islam. This violence based on the wrong interpretation of Islam is unacceptable,” said Mr. Hamid.

“Their brutality is worse than genocide. They are killing women, elderly and children who are respected in Islam. Their conduct is against every teachings of Islam,” he added.

The statement also blamed the USA, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait for “fuelling the flames” in strife-torn Syria and Iraq.