David Cameron yesterday denounced the “absolutely shocking” killing of Muslim shopkeeper Asad Shah.
The prime minister threw his support behind a campaign against extremism in Scotland after SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson raised the case in the Commons.
Mr Shah was fatally stabbed outside his premises in Glasgow last month.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Moray MP Mr Robertson called on the Tory leader to back the United Against Extremism campaign.
He said: “It’s believed that the recent murder of Glasgow shopkeeper Asad Shah was religiously motivated.
“This week Christian, Jewish, Sikh and Ahmadiyya Muslim faith leaders launched a campaign across Scotland entitled United Against Extremism.
“Will you join me and colleagues of all parties in supporting the aims of this campaign to support and foster understanding and stand up to extremism?”
Mr Cameron insisted he would “certainly” do so, adding: “This was an absolutely shocking murder.
“I think what it demonstrates again, and what your question hints at, is that we need not only to stand up against violence and acts of appalling violence like this.
“But we also need to stand up against the extremist mindset that sometimes tries to justify events like this or other such outrages.”
Mr Robertson called the incident “just the most recent example” of sectarian extremism targeting the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in the UK.
He told MPs there had previously been reports of people being refused employment, children being bullied and businesses boycotted.
Mr Cameron agreed faith leaders could play a huge role, adding the attacks on Ahmadiyya Muslims by other Muslims showed the challenge faced was “not some clash of civilisations” between Islam and Christianity or Islam and Buddhism.
He added: “What we are seeing is a small minority within one of the great religions of our world, Islam, believing that there is only one way – a violent, extremist way – of professing their faith.
“This is a battle within Islam, and we have to be on the side of the moderate majority and make sure that they win it.”