SHOKAT Lal, the chairman of the Pakistani Community Centre in Derby, said he could not understand what "possesses" British people to become involved in a war in a country that "is nothing to do with" these individuals.
"He is not a Syrian or Iraqi national, so why has he left his family in Derby to join a fight that is based solely on his religious beliefs?
"It is totally unacceptable."
Mr Lal said it would only be right if Ahmed were caught and punished for his actions. He was not sure how likely this would be but he added that he felt the chance that Ahmed, who moved to London to study at university there, became radicalised while growing up in Derby was "minimal".
Mr Lal said: "This is an absolute one-off and just because someone from the city has made a personal decision to get involved in this war, it does not mean Derby is a hotbed or breeding ground for radicalisation.
"That is simply not the case and that is down to the hard work going on within the community.
"You cannot legislate what is going on in one person's mind, but the chances that this individual gained the views that he has by any form of radicalisation in Derby is tiny, absolutely minimal."
