Religious organisations should join govt. in battle against ISIS propaganda, says security expert

Urging the social, cultural and religious organisations to join hands in fighting ISIS propaganda, security expert Qamar Agha on Sunday said that ISIS's powerful propaganda over the social media is targeted at youth and added that government alone cannot control such propaganda.

"It is a very serious problem for the government to control. The government alone cannot control, there is a need for social organisations and cultural organisations to join this battle against ISIS or against militancy. They have a very powerful media prepared by highly professional people which is mainly targeted at youth to attract them," Agha told ANI here.

He urged the religious leaders and liberal Islamic scholars to people what Islam truly believes in.

"Government alone cannot control it, the religious leaders, the liberal Islamic scholars, political leaders, social and cultural organisations all should club together and fight. We have Urdu press, we have Urdu media, religious channels are there , they should have regular debate and discussion on this matter and tell what Islam truly believes in , we should tell youth that these organisations are using religion for political gains," said Agha when asked how hard it is for the government to control social media.

Commenting on Arif, who was reportedly lured by the social media to join ISIS, Agha said, "This boy Arif who has come back from Iraq was attracted to that propaganda, he contacted them directly and joined them. There is a need to combat it, the social organisations should also join the government in this battle."

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Saturday sent Arif Majeed, one of four youths who had gone to Iraq and is a suspected Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) recruit, under custody till December 8.