A Victorian Muslim leader has described the stark dissimilarity between followers of Islam and the distortion of the religion put forward by Islamic State militants.

Geelong Imam Mohammad Ramzan distanced adherents to the Muslim faith from the terror group, which he labelled “filthy dogs”.

He was speaking at a candlelight vigil for France in the regional Victorian city on Monday night, attended by about 100 people including Federal Member for Corangamite Sarah Henderson.

• ‘IS is weak’: Waleed Aly
• Eiffel Tower reopens in spectacular fashion
• Paris suspect is ‘normal’

Imam Ramzan said before all else, including religion, “we are human beings”.

“These are the basic fundamental teachings of Islam and this beautiful religion is distorted by some people and they are trying to snatch this beautiful and peaceful ­religion from us,” he said.

“I would like to say that before anyone blames Islam or Muslims for the crimes of the IS, ISIS in Paris or elsewhere in the world he should remember that ISIS has killed over half a million Muslims in the past two years in different countries, in Iraq and Syria.

“They do not represent the views of Muslims at all.

“It is important that the Muslims do all they can to help destroy the filthy dogs of ISIS. If the whole Muslim world condemns the atrocities, it is not enough.”