Muslim religious scholars from all over India are meeting at a leading Islamic school to discuss issues related to terrorism.
The meeting is being held at the Darul-Uloom Deoband, a powerful Islamic school more than 150 years old.
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The Deoband school promotes a brand of Islam which some say was an inspiration to Afghanistan's Taleban, although the school denies this.
Reports say that the meeting is expected to denounce terrorism and declare acts of terrorism as "un-Islamic".
One of the scholars participating in the meeting told a television channel that it also aimed to shape popular perceptions.
"We want to make the public conscious [about terrorism]. The disease [of terrorism] has been diagnosed in a wrong way. Whenever there is a terrorist act, fingers are pointed at Muslims."
Another participant said that "terrorism negates the teachings of Islam".
Senior school official, Muhammad Usman, said the meeting will also advise Muslims to be "careful and cautious about conspiracies in the present situation".
"[We will demand] that Muslim community and people of madrassas or any particular community are not harassed and tortured in the name of terrorism."
(BBC)
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