This is with reference to the report “New war crime: Daesh destroys Palmyra temple” (Aug. 25). Daesh has once again proved that there is nothing Islamic about it. Had this group been following the true teachings of Islam, it would never have attacked places of worship. Islam strictly forbids such actions even during wartime. This terrorist group is continuously violating the basic teachings of Islam. It is matter of concern that despite its un-Islamic behavior, it is managing to attract recruits from various parts of the world particularly Europe. This trend indicates that Muslims need to study Islam properly.

Religious scholars should step up their efforts to counter the propaganda of this evil terrorist group wreaking havoc on the region in the name of our religion. Governments in the Muslim world are taking military action against extremist elements, which is commendable but there is a need to launch an intellectual battle to root out this deviant ideology. — Tariq Nabeel, Riyadh