Former presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, has condemned the recent threats by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) against Christians in Nigeria, stating that the group’s actions have no basis in Islam.
Ahmad made the remarks on Friday via his official 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) handle, distancing the terrorist group from Islamic values and describing their campaign as a distortion of the religion.
“The ISWAP terrorists threatening Christians to convert to Islam or face death are obviously not Muslims and their actions in no way represent Islam or its teachings,” Ahmad wrote.
He stressed that Islam forbids coercion in matters of faith and recalled that the religion was spread through peaceful means.
“Islam was never spread through coercion, intimidation or violence. The Qur’an is explicit that there is no compulsion in religion.
“Even during the time of our beloved Prophet (PBUH), Muslims coexisted peacefully with non-Muslims in both Makkah and Madinah, bound by mutual respect, justice and shared humanity, ” he said.
Ahmad described ISWAP’s threats and violent actions as a betrayal of Islamic principles and humanity at large.
“What these terrorists are doing is a complete betrayal of Islam and a distortion of its values. Their renewed campaign of violence and intimidation is utterly condemnable and it stands against both our religion and humanity,” he added.