Minnesota Muslims Remind Public ISIL Is Not Islam

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Muslims across Minnesota are working to remind the public that violent messages spread by the Islamic State group do not represent the religion of Islam.

Muslims worldwide celebrated Eid al-Adha this weekend, a holiday that is rooted in prayer and charity.

As Muslims gathered Saturday for prayer and socializing, Imam Makram El-Amin said that Islam is the opposite of a group perpetrating crimes in Syria and Iraq.

Lori Saroya is executive director of the Minnesota Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

She says leaders from about 50 Muslim groups have met to be proactive about community outreach.

Nationally, a group of younger Muslims launched a hashtag campaign, #NotInMyName, to remind the world that the Islamic State group doesn't represent their religion.