YOUNG Muslims have been urged to reject extremism and support victims of Syria's humanitarian crisis through legitimate charitable work, in a co-ordinated drive by religious leaders in the UK.
Imams and other faith leaders denounced the actions of insurgents and appealed to young British Muslims not to take part in the civil war.
They made their plea ahead of the start of Ramadan today after three men, including one from Aberdeen, were seen in a recruitment video for the radical Islamic group Isis calling on others of their faith to take up arms and join extremists abroad.
Imams yesterday used Friday prayers to encourage people to give money to help Syrians through properly regulated organisations based in the UK. They read out a special message organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, which said it called on "young British Muslims who are exporting extremism" to re-examine their position.
Mazhar Khan, spokesman for the Muslim Council of Scotland, said they also urged worshippers to donate to good causes in Syria. He added: "Charity is one of the pillars of Islam and Muslims during Ramadan in particular will spend money on charity, so we absolutely support this."
Commenting on the video, he added: "This has definitely left the Muslim community in Scotland in dismay. For the vast majority, they recognise that this is not helpful.
"There are better ways to help people in that region and going over there to fight is just ridiculous. It's not something anyone in the mainstream would endorse."
Abdul Raqib Amin, 24, was identified after appearing in a 13-minute video with Nasser Muthana and Reyaad Khan, from Cardiff, urging Muslims to fight with Sunni extremists Isis in Syria.
Mr Amin, from Bangladesh, moved to Scotland with his family as a child, grew up in the Froghall area of Aberdeen and went to Sunnybank Primary and St Machar Academy. It is believed he moved to Leicester and his parents returned to Bangladesh.
Isis, an al Qaeda off-shoot, has mushroomed in Syria and more recently Iraq.
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