Western Muslims hold conference to voice reforms within House of Islam

WASHINGTON - Western Muslims hoping to counter the influence of Islamist ideology are gathering in the D.C. area Friday.

The group is meeting to share findings from a recent reform summit held to address the root causes of Islamist terrorism.

The "Summit for Western Muslim Voices for Reform against the Islamic State and Islamism," conference is the first of its kind and will include over 20 Western Muslim reformers.

This meeting follows a deadly terror attack in Paris and comes just days after a mass shooting in California.

"The time for condemnations, and just simply press releases, against acts of terror is over," Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser told FOX 5's Bob Barnard at the National Press Club Friday.

"There's a root cause. We're going to put out a declaration today, hand it to everybody, and say this is the litmus test. If Muslims can say they're against all violent Jihads, against the Islamic State concept, against the caliphate, for equality in men and women, for peace for secular governance -- these are things that either can modernize or moderate Muslims," he continued. "If they don't agree with them, they become radicalized and are part of the problem."

"I think it's time for Muslims and Americans to see that we're part of the solution - and that will do just unbelievable benefit to melt away some of the bigotry that exists towards Muslims to realize we're part of the solution," Jasser said.