Former Grand Mufti Mohamad Rasheed Qabbani pointed out Tuesday that the groups slaughtering their captives under the name of Islam are badly harming the said religion, disavowing such crimes.

"These acts do not represent Islam in any way," Qabbani said in a statement.

"What did the abducted troops, their families and children do wrong to be threatened with slaughter? Is it because they are protecting their country?" he wondered.

Qabbani called on the kidnappers to immediately free the troops and stop conducting acts that do not represent Islam.