The Islamic State wants to create a caliphate, a sovereign state ruled under Sharia law. Not surprisingly, many Muslims don't want their religion associated with the group whose radical teachings and heinous tactics have taken over large portions of Syria and Iraq.
The Active Change Foundation, a London-based community organization, started a social media campaign (a favorite IS tool) to push back against the terrorist organization. The group launched the #NotInMyName campaign and produced a YouTube with British Muslims explaining how the Islamic State's actions don't match what they believe as a person of the Islam faith.
"We must all unite together and try to stop this group from damaging Islam and damaging Muslims," one young Muslim woman said in the video. "My religion promotes tolerance for women and you have no respect for women."
The #NotInMyName hashtag has been used nearly 20,000 times in the last week, according to Topsy, a social media analytics site. Some have tweeted it in their calls for IS to release British aid worker Alan Kenning, who recently appeared in one of the terror group's propaganda videos.
The Active Change Foundation was formed in 2003 to prevent violent street crime, gang related issues, community tensions and violent extremisms in its community, according to the organization's website.
Its latest campaign declares that "ISIS is hiding behind a false Islam" instead of the "peace, respect and love" that Islam teaches. "It's nothing to do with what we stand for. Tell ISIS that they can't murder in your name," the group states.
