MOSQUES across Newport will unite this week to speak out against terrorism in a special reading.

Seven mosques have joined together and will explain to around 1,000 worshippers why extremism and terrorism goes against the what is written in the Koran.

As part of the daily prayer on Friday, the Shah Poran Jame Mosque, Al-Noor Mosque, Alexandra Road Mosque, Jamia Mosque, Islamic Society of Gwent in Victoria Road, the Hussaini Mission and Newport Central Jamia Mosque will simultaneously deliver the reading at 1.10pm.

The reading will be accompanied by a leaflet called 'What does Islam say?', which police believe is the first of its kind in the UK.

Sheik Mohammad Tahir Ullah, chairman at the Shah Poran Jame Mosque in Hereford Street, said: "We don't want any extremists here in Newport, South Wales or the world, Islam doesn't want extremists. Islam is a peaceful religion."

Mubarak Ali, secretary for the Islamic Society for Wales, based at the Mosque in Victoria Road, added: "We don't want extremists coming to Newport and we're preaching the true message of Islam, which is peace.

"These extremists are a separate entity, they're nothing to do with mainstream Islam and normal Muslims want nothing to do with them. It's important to highlight what the key messages are."

Gwent Police's Mike Davies, co-chairman of the Newport PREVENT Delivery Group, which works to help Muslims in Newport to promote anti-terrorism initiatives, said: "Mosques leaders will be taking to task the arguments promoted by Muslim extremist groups. This will send out a clear message that true Muslims reject extremism and know that the indiscriminate use of violence is forbidden."

Mr Davies said he applauded the Muslim community for this to "prevent the possibility of extremist groups influencing the outlook of young Muslims in the city."