The extremist group the Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) has made effective use of social media to spread propaganda, releasing gory videos on YouTube and launching hashtag campaigns to threaten the United States.
Now Muslims around the world are fighting back — using the hashtag #NotInMyName to remind the world that ISIS does not represent their religion.
Another disgusting threat from the un-Islamic State #NotInMyName. We all call for Alan Henning’s prompt release. pic.twitter.com/3H2Rq1ntwE
— Sayed Umaar (@UmaarKazmi) September 18, 2014
The campaign was launched on September 10 by the London-based organization Active Change Foundation with the video embedded at the top of the post.
We refute all terrorism across the world today #notinmyname #ISIS #NeverForget#rememberthem #911anniversary #Gaza https://t.co/Qy6HDZMD3T
— ACTIVE CHANGE FND (@Active_Change_F) September 11, 2014
“The murder of an innocent man has no justification in any religion or walk of life,” Hanif Qadir, the founder of the Active Change Foundation, told the Mirror, referring to the beheading of David Haines, a British aid worker killed by ISIS fighters on Sept. 13. “These terrorists ISIS are not true Muslims, they do not practice the true teachings of Islam; peace, mercy and compassion and they are the enemy of all mankind.”
The social media campaign has since then gained steam with more than 14,000 tweets in the last 7 days.
What is going on over the world and claims to be under the name of Islam is wrong, Islam has nothing to do with it #Notinmyname
— امينة (@Hiddenukht) September 16, 2014
British Muslims send a clear message to #IS #ISIS sectarian murderers — #notinmyname pic.twitter.com/i84K9jDQ1h
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaGeoNews) September 17, 2014
You want to slaughter innocent civillians and publicize beheadings? #NotInMyName #NoISIS
— Sabr (@FLAKSSSSSS) September 16, 2014
▀█▀░██▀█░▀█▀░██▀█╦░╦╔╣╦╔╝╔╝ ░█░░▀██▄░░█░░▀██▄║░║║░╠╩╗╚╗ ▄█▄░█▄██░▄█▄░█▄██╚═╝╚╣╩░╚═╝ #ISIS #ISISucks #NotInMyName pic.twitter.com/a8ao9hrRoo
— ♥B♥B♥ (@Hiqutipie) September 19, 2014
We Muslims condemn ISIS’s horrible actions. These terrorist doesn’t represent our religion. #NotInMyName pic.twitter.com/JrWsFBP0wv
— Athkar (@athkaar5_) September 19, 2014
Muslims are sharing pictures of themselves with the hashtag on both Twitter and Instagram.
British Muslims send a clear message to #IS #ISIS sectarian murderers — #notinmyname pic.twitter.com/i84K9jDQ1h
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaGeoNews) September 17, 2014