Islamic Clerics Denounce Acts of Violence

Muslim clerics from around the five boroughs and as far as Westchester County gathered on the steps of City Hall on Tuesday to publicly denounce the acts of violence carried about by Islamic extremist groups, and to announce a public relations campaign of sorts.

The clerics said they had developed a four-point plan that includes using social media, sermons and public outreach to show citizens a peaceful side of Islam.

Imam al-Hajj Talib ‘Abdur-Rashid, President of the Islamic Leadership Council of Metropolitan New York, said non-Muslims are not the only groups at risk for being deceived. He said there are young Muslims who could be drawn to the messages of extremists. He said the clerics are making a deliberate effort to counter those violent messages.