Moderate Muslims condemn violence committed in name of their religion
While many moderates speak out to protect good name, others say they shouldn't have to
In tweets, in street gatherings and in open letters, moderate Muslims around the world are insisting that Islamic State extremists don't speak for their religion. Many are also frustrated that anyone might think they do, and a backlash has already begun.
Last week's videotaped beheading of a French mountaineer by militants linked to the Islamic State group prompted heartsick fury among Muslims in France and elsewhere in Europe, torn between anger at the atrocities committed in the name of Islam and frustration that they have to defend themselves at all.
Herve Gourdel was the fifth Western hostage decapitated in recent weeks by Islamic extremists - this time, the militants said, as revenge for France's decision to join air strikes against the Islamic State group.
The head of France's largest mosque called for Muslims to rally on Friday in Paris to condemn Gourdel's slaying and show unity against terrorism, saying Islamic State's "deadly ideology" had nothing to do with Islam. Within hours, the rector of the Bordeaux mosque, Tareq Oubrou, had said French Muslims need not demonstrate in the name of Islam but should be joined by everyone.
"They are doubly affected, because this crime touched one of our countrymen and because this crime was carried out in the name of our religion," Oubrou told RTL radio.
The same debate played out elsewhere. The hashtag campaign notinmyname - or pasenmonnom in French - initiated by British Muslims who wanted to show their opposition to extremist violence, spawned a MuslimApologies backlash by those who thought the regret was overwrought. Tweets "apologised" for algebra, soap and coffee.