Senior British Muslims have launched a campaign to raise awareness of Muslim condemnation of terrorism.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) today took out advertisements across the UK's national press in response to the horror of the Paris attacks last Friday. Even before the attacks, there were reports of rising Islamophobia and incidents of hate in the UK.

Dr Shuja Shafi, MCB secretary general, said: "The advert aims to highlight how Muslims everywhere have consistently and without reservation spoken out against terror. It is important that our fellow Britons hear this message loudly and clearly".

The advert states "The barbaric acts of Daesh (or ISIS, as they are sometimes known) have no sanction in the religion of Islam, which forbids terrorism and the targeting of innocents." It adds: "The aim of attacks like those inflicted on Paris and other cities across the world is to turn communities against each other. As Muslims, Britons and Europeans, we must stand together to make sure they do not succeed."

The advert was organised by the Muslim Council of Britain and signed off by more than 300 affiliates of the MCB.