Filipino Muslim Militants Condemn 'Isis' Barbarism and Savagery'

The Philippines' largest Muslim group, Moro Islamic Liberation Front (Milf), has condemned Isis for its brutality in its current insurgence in Iraq and Syria.

Milf, which signed a peace agreement with the Philippine government last March, published an open letter on its official website in which it criticises Isis (also known as the Islamic State, or IS).

"The Milf condemns barbarism and savagery whether done by other groups including the Isis or even by its own members" the letter says.

Referring to allegations that some 100 members of two other Islamist groups in the Philippines, Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM), have joined Isis, Milf said:

"The Milf has no verified report about it. In our view, there is more loss than gain for the two groups in joining the Isis.

"For us, the threat is not in the two groups' joining the Isis. Their number is too tiny to be felt and make a difference," the statement continued. "The Isis is overflowing with volunteers from all over the world, including those from the United States, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Australia.

"The threat really comes from the extremism espoused by the Isis. Ideas are contagious and infectious. Wild ideas are attractive to those who want adventures and pre-occupied with hatred and revenge. The Isis, we suppose, is not short of people."

Milf added that Western countries are also to blame for the birth of Isis.

"Iraq was invaded to get rid of a dictator, Saddam Hussein, and to seize his nuclear weapons, which were not there. But the real reasons for the invasion were concealed.

"What did the Iraqis get in return? Nothing, but bloodshed, destruction, anarchism. Who are at fault? The one that created the troubles now or those who planted the seeds of enmity and violence? The answer is, both."

Isis, which started its offensive against the Iraqi government last June, already controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria.