An Australian doctor says he will continue his charity work despite being named by the Islamic State (IS) group on a “kill list”.

Tawfique Chowdhury, the founder of Islamic development organisation Mercy Mission, attracted the ire of IS for presenting a speech to British anti-terrorism experts.

According to Dr Chowdhury, Muslim scholars are natural allies of the West in fighting extremism and the best strategy for prevention is to dismantle terrorist ideologies using the Koran.

• Asylum seeker detention on Manus ruled illegal
• One dead after triple shooting
• Charged teen ‘in deradicalisation program’

In the latest issue of official IS magazine Dabiq, an anonymous author calls upon the group’s followers to “wage jihad” against several western-based Muslims.

Dr Chowdhury said while it was important not to exaggerate how powerful IS is, he was left a little concerned by the threat.

“I don’t know who they are. I don’t know if they exist in Australia where we live,” he said.

He still believes if Australia is to be successful in combating the jihadist ideology, the answer remains in the theological knowledge of Muslim scholars.

“We need to appreciate that Muslim scholars have been addressing this topic ever since Islam has existed, which is 1,400 years ago,” Dr Chowdhury said.

“We’re talking about Australia, which is only a little more than a century old.

“There has to be a respect that Muslim scholars that are fighting this particular issue, and from an orthodox understanding, are probably the best people placed to address this.

“It cannot be fought on the battlefield of weapons and bullets, it has to be fought on the intellectual battlefield first.”

He says Mercy Mission operates in many different countries, and it is not the first time he has received threats by extremist groups for his work.

“A part of me says why? What is so offensive about the message I am spreading?” he said.

A prolific public speaker with a YouTube channel that features hundreds of his speeches, he says his work must go on in spite of the threats.

“A part of me is relieved, there is some sort of impact and [that our] work is going on and is making some people worry.”