At the event on Thursday. (Express Photo by Dilip Kagda) At the event on Thursday. (Express Photo by Dilip Kagda)

SEVERAL Muslim organisations came together under the banner of the Mahim Dargah Trust on Thursday to announce that they will use the digital medium and the internet in the form of mobile applications, Instagram pages, Facebook and other social media accounts to send out the message to young Muslims that the ISIS is the “enemy of Islam” and that they should not be lured by its radical ideology. Choosing to use the very medium that the Islamic State (IS) has been using to radicalise impressionable youngsters, the religious leaders also said this message would be read out by Muslim clerics at the sermon during Friday prayers across the country.

The gathering, comprising Maulana Syed Moinuddin Ashraf known as Moin Miyan; Suhail Khandwani, Trustee of the Mahim and Haji Ali Dargahs; Narendra Rane, Chairman of Siddhivinayak Trust; Father Simon Borges of St Michael’s Church in Mahim and DCP Mahesh Patil, among others, were unanimous in criticising the IS and stating that no religion would propagate acts of violence. Mufti Manzoor Ziayee, Chairman of Dar-ul-uloom Faizan-e-Raza, said,”The IS has hijacked the internet to influence impressionable minds.” The leaders decided to use the same medium to inform people of what Islam actually stands for, he continued. “We are in the process of creating nearly 1,000 Instagram accounts, Facebook pages and other social media to spread the message of peace.” He added, “As of now there will be a focus on three messages, ‘Islam is not linked to terror’; ‘there is no ‘heaven’ waiting for you if you follow such radical ideology’ and ‘join Sufism not terrorism’.” Ziyaee is hoping to also collaborate with the Mumbai Police’s cyber crime cell in the future.

Khandwani said that the Mahim dargah would have its own mobile app that will enable people to pay their respects online if they cannot visit the Dargah. The gathering was later joined by city BJP chief and MLA Ashish Shelar and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MLA Waris Pathan. Shelar said, “I hope this initiative spreads across the country and there is jihad against terrorism.”

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