Washington, USA - A coalition of U.S. Muslim groups has announced a new campaign to steer young people away from religiously-incited violence.
Speaking at a news conference in Washington, Imam Abu Malik-Johari, president of the Coordinating Council of Muslim Organizations, condemned any killing motivated by religion.
"People who would go out and kill anyone, of any religion, from any country, of any age, for no reason other than the fact they are angry, isolated and upset is against God by whatever name you call," Johari said.
The groups said it would intensify an effort among community groups such as religious schools, youth centers and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America programs.
Some of the speakers were critical of the Bush administration for not including Muslim leadership in counterterrorism activities.
"Rather than spending all their energies in terms of recruiting spies and snitchers, they need to spend more time and more energy engaging the authentic Muslim leadership in the United States," said Imam Mahdi Bray of the Muslim American Society.