The Commonwealth of Independent States
Anti – Terrorism Center

An international research and practice conference "Prevention of Youth Involvement into Terrorist and Extremist Organizations" was held under the auspices of the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center in the Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov on 24-25 September 2015.
The Conference has been attended by: the Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation to the Central Federal District, representatives of the Russian universities, traditional confessions, administrations of some constituent territories of the Russian Federation, members of the steering committees (commissions) of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, Russian FSB and Ministry of Interior and their territorial agencies, official (plenipotentiary) representatives of the security agencies of the CIS member-states in the Russian Federation as well as representatives of the mass media and public associations. Sharing best practices in organization of work in the CIS universities aimed at non-involvement of youth into activity of the international terrorist organizations, a system of preventive measures to counteract youth radicalization and interaction between the universities' presidentships, academic staff and relevant authorities of the Commonwealth states have been discussed in the course of the Conference.
As a follow-up of the team work, an open appeal has been adopted in which the Conference participants confirmed their readiness to direct joint efforts to prevent youth involvement into terrorist and extremist organizations.

I welcome the organizers and participants of the Research and Practice Conference on "Prevention of Youth Involvement into Terrorist and Extremist Organizations" initiated by the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center.

The threat of international terrorism is among the most burning global challenges. It is necessary to step up the coordinated efforts of the society aimed at counteraction to the propaganda of the extremist ideology paying attention to cultivation of moral values of the youth.

I am sure the discussions to take place in the course of the conference will bring positive results.

I wish you fruitful work and all the best.

All the praises be to God, the Lord of the 'Alamîn! May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.

Today there are different opinions about such phenomenon as ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) or IS (Islamic State). In reality these illegal formations have no right to be called Islamic, and we are obliged to warn of a danger of their calls. Despite the apparentness of their crimes, some Muslims do fall under their influence. We will give you evidences from the Quran, Sunna and other legal sources to prove that the IS actions starting from founding the group and ending with brutality and public executions are contrary to Islam.

Allah says in the Noble Quran, "And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. (Quran, 17:33) and "Say, "Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you." [He commands] that you not associate anything with Him, and to parents, good treatment. And do not kill your children out of poverty; We will provide for you and them. And do not approach immoralities - what is apparent of them and what is concealed. And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden to be killed except by right (as a response response to killing)" (Quran, 6:151). Unreasoned killing of a living soul, of any living soul is haram. Moreover, this is one of the ugliest sins. Allah says in the Quran, "Because of that, We decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption done in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs" (Quran, 5:32). The IS followers have already killed many innocent people who were unarmed, and had no links with the party fighting against them just for the reason they had disagreed with their opinion.

The meaning of Jihad for the Muslims is in fighting those who fights against them but not in fighting those who is not at odds with them and not in oppressing those who does not oppress them. That what Allah says about the permitted Jihad, "Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory. [They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right - only because they say, "Our Lord is Allah". And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might." (Quran, 22:39-40). Thus, jihad is linked with security, freedom of religion, oppression and exile. These two ayats have been sent down in consequence of 13 years of persecution, killings and tortures which the idolaters subjected the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions. hence, there is no room for offensive aggressive jihad just for the reason of differences in opinions or for the reason of other religion. This is an opinion of Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Akhmad and other scientists. For this killing of any Muslim and any man who is unarmed and does not belong to a belligerent party is inadmissible.

The Prophet, let Allah bless and greet him, said, "During the last days there will appear some young foolish people who will say the best words (i.e. The Prophet's hadith) but their faith will not go beyond their throats and will go out from their religion as an arrow goes out of the game. So, where-ever you find them, kill them, for who-ever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection" (Hadith collection of Imam al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 6930). The words "foolish people" clearly describes the IS followers dreaming of creation of an Islamic state ripping through everything in their path to gain their goal. With that there is a common agreement of the Islamic scientists that Caliphate is a commitment for the Ummah. The Ummah needs the Caliphate however a new Caliphate demands agreement of all Muslims and not just those residing in one little corner of the world. Umar ibn Al-Khattab said, "Whoever gives the pledge of allegiance to anybody among you without consulting the other Muslims, that person overreached himself; And neither that person, nor the person to whom the pledge of allegiance was given, are to be supported, lest they both should be killed" (Hadith collection of Imam al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 6830).

Announcing Caliphate without consulting is fitnah (uprising) as it leaves the majority of Muslims, who disagreed with this Caliphate, beyond Caliphate. This will also bring to appearance of numerous isolated competing Caliphates that in its turn will result in uprising and discordance among the Muslims. Like has already happened when Sunni Imams of Mosul refused to owe allegiance to IS and they killed them in revenge.

The call of the IS followers appealing to join them and fight under their banner sounds very alarming. The Prophet, let Allah bless and greet him, said, "One who fights under the banner of a people who are blind..., if he is killed (in this fight), he dies as one belonging to the days of Jahiliyya (Hadith collection of Imam Muslim, Hadith No. 1848). The banners of blind people, nameless squads, unknown Amirs of combat squads with imaginary names - all these create the illusion of goodness of initiative but in reality just demonstrate that this is someone's artful, paid-for manipulation which has killed hundreds of thousands people.

Let Allah save you, your nearest and dearest and all sincere Muslims from evil and uprising of the lost people! Let Allah put you on the right track.

To this end, all the praises be to God, the Lord of the 'Alamîn!