ISNA Denounces ISIS Attacks on Iraq’s Religious Minorities

Today, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) denounces the terrorist group known as Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) for its attacks on Iraq’s religious minorities and the destruction of their places of worship.

Earlier in the week, ISIS captured several towns in northern Iraq after battling Kurdish forces.  The recent fighting has caused significant displacement of minority communities with media reports indicating that over 100,000 Yazidis and a quarter of Iraq’s Christians have fled their homes. Shia places of worship have also been destroyed and the tombs of the Prophet Jonah and Imam Abbas were also desecrated or destroyed. 

According to Human Rights Watch, ISIS forces have killed Shiite Turkmens, kidnapped and murdered Shiite members of the Shabak minority and has scrawled letters across Christian homes, proclaimed them the property of the Islamic State and exiled the inhabitants. And more recently, it has forced out of Sinjar thousands of Yazidis.

“ISIS actions against religious minorities in Iraq violate the Quranic teaching, ‘Let there be no compulsion in religion’ (Surat al-Baqara 2:256) ,” said ISNA President Imam Mohamed Magid.  “Their actions are to be denounced and are in no way representative of what Islam actually teaches.”

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is the largest and oldest Islamic umbrella organization in North America. Its mission is to foster the development of the Muslim community, interfaith relations, civic engagement, and better understanding of Islam.