02 June 2016

Admit that Islam drives Isis, says BBC religion boss

The BBC’s Muslim head of religion and ethics has said it is untrue that Isis has “nothing to do with Islam”. Aaqil Ahmed acknowledged it was an “uncomfortable” truth that the terrorist group is inspired by Islamic doctrine.

Mr Ahmed was speaking at Huddersfield University when he was asked to defend the corporation’s policy of referring to Isis as the “so-called” Islamic State. At an event organised by Lapido, the centre for religious literacy in journalism, the barrister Neil Addison said: “You wouldn’t say ‘so-called Huddersfield University’.”

According to a report yesterday by Lapido, Mr Ahmed said at last Wednesday’s event: “I hear so many people say Isis has nothing to do with Islam — of course it has. They are not preaching Judaism. [The Times (£)] Read more