youths rally against IS in Hyderabad

To check the designs of the Islamic State (IS) — which has been radicalising youth through social media — a group of young men, students and professionals in Hyderabad has floated the ‘United For Justice’ The IS has been successful in trapping several young men, and even a woman, from the city. While a few flew to Syria, others were stopped by the police at the right time. The UFJ began its activities near Charminar in the old city through a poster launch.“Islam doesn’t support killing of innocents. The IS members are not Muslims. We will highlight this through posters.We want to take this as a mass movement,” said Syed Ayub, a businessman from the Old City, who leads the group.On Friday, the volunteers fanned through the old city, educating students



against IS propaganda material online that might subvert their minds. “We told them that their future will be spoiled if they read and try to reach the war zone,” Abdul Hamid, a volunteer, said. He cited the example of Afsha Jabeen alias Nicky Joseph, and her friend Salman Mohiuddin who were arrested for planning to join the group. “A teenaged girl also was rescued by the Indian government after she joined IS,” he said.The volunteers now only a few in number, want to spread the word through social media. We need to work fast. We want no one from our beautiful city to join IS,” said Afreen, a woman volunteer. The group wants to spread to other parts of the twin cities and then take the message to other areas like Adilabad where there is a sizeable number of Muslims.