We are deeply saddened to learn of the gruesome murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.

What is even more saddening is that the name of Islam has been used in justifying this horror when the truth is that religion of Islam can in no way condone such barbarism.

Islam is a religion of peace and exhorts its followers to conform with the law of the land.

To murder an unarmed individual in this heinous manner is anything but conforming to the law of the land and has no place in Islam where the enormity of the killing of even one individually unlawfully is such that it is as if the whole of humankind has been killed.

As Muslims we are proud to be part of the British Community. Britain is OUR country and we are loyal to it. We may not agree with our Government on everything – who does?

But that can never give us the licence to take such outrageous action in a community in which we live, where we earn and raise our children, a community that strives to live by the law, a community where the sick are treated and the elderly looked after.

To engage in such unilateral and violent action on the basis of a disagreement is utterly outrageous.

Disagreements, as we are taught both as subjects of this nation and by the tenets of Islam, should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and understanding as it is only through such means will we be able to promote a harmonious society.

We must not allow incidents like this give extremists the upper hand and disrupt the peace of our society.

On the contrary we should draw closer together, condemn the extremist elements on all sides and work together to ensure that we continue in our effort to build diverse and cohesive society.

We also support the Prime Minister's statement which he made after this tragic incident. This was not just an attack on Britain, and on the British way of life, it was also a betrayal of Islam and of the Muslim communities who give so much to this country. There is nothing in Islam that justifies this truely dreadful act.

Naseem Butt;  Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK South London Region, 59 St James's Road, Croydon

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