A COALITION of Newport Muslim groups yesterday launched a grassroots campaign that spells out why terrorism and extremism are against the teaching of Islam.

The Council of Mosques and Muslim Organisations Newport has unveiled a leaflet entitled What Does Islam Say, which the organisation says takes to task the arguments made by extremists.

The leaflet, due to be distributed to Newport schools, at mosques and at council venues including libraries, deals with several subjects, including why Muslims should reject extremism and how the indiscriminate use of violence is forbidden.

Its arguments are backed up with quotes from Islamic texts, including the holy book, the Koran.

COMMON produced the leaflet, believed to be the first in Britain to win the backing of a broad number of local Muslim organisations, jointly with the anti-terrorism Newport Prevent Delivery Group, backed by Newport council and Gwent Police.

It was launched last night at the University of Wales Newport City campus, where local Islamic scholars answered questions on the themes in the leaflet.

The appearance of people from outside Newport leafleting city mosques telling Muslims not to vote was one of many impetuses for the move, according to Shereen Williams, co-chairwoman of NPDG.

She said: “The group was very clear, they didn’t want people like this in our city trying to influence our young people.”

Ifthir-Ahmed Miah, the current facilitator for the group and the chairman of the Youth Muslim Community Organisation, said the leaflet was aimed at everyone, including the “average next-door neighbour”.

He said: “We thought, how could we best communicate and tell everybody what Islam is really about?”

There are common calls, he said, asking where are the majority of Muslims speaking out against terrorism and extremism?

Speaking at last night’s launch, Mr Miah added: “Newport City Council and Gwent Police have played their parts in restricting the activities of extremists. Our mosques have barred them and mosque members have even confronted them.

“Collectively we are insuring that they are made to feel thoroughly unwelcome here.”

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Applause for leaflet

WE HAVE said for years that figureheads in our Muslim communities must speak out against Islamist terror.

Last night a coalition of Newport Muslim groups launched a leaflet spelling out why they believe terrorism and extremism are against the teaching of Islam.

The Council of Mosques and Muslim Organisations Newport leaflet states that “there is a common misunderstanding amongst a tiny minority of Muslims that it is OK to disobey the law of the land if it is not a country of Muslims”.

We shouldn’t underestimate the importance of this leaflet. It’s an important step in eradicating some of the misconceptions some people will have of the Muslim community.

If this changes the mind of just one person then it will have been worth it.

More importantly, we applaud the organisations involved for taking this step. Very few others around the country have done anything similar.

It shows that our Muslim communities are forward thinking, have a respect for our beliefs and cultures and have no desire for violence.

We hope others follow.