Fartwa Issued Against Bin Laden - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

fishweewee · 03-10-2005, 05:14 PM

dum dee dum...what took them so !@#$ long?

Spanish Muslims Issue Fatwa Against Usama

Thursday, March 10, 2005

MADRID, Spain — Muslim clerics in Spain issued what they called the world's first fatwa (search), or Islamic edict, against Usama bin Laden on Thursday, the first anniversary of the Madrid train bombings, calling him an apostate and urging others of their faith to denounce the Al Qaeda (search) leader.

The ruling was issued by the Islamic Commission of Spain, the main body representing the country's 1 million-member Muslim community. The commission represents 200 or so mostly Sunni mosques, or about 70 percent of all mosques in Spain.

The March 11, 2004, train bombings killed 191 people and were claimed in videotapes by militants who said they had acted on Al Qaeda's behalf in revenge for Spain's troop deployment in Iraq.

The commission's secretary general, Mansur Escudero, said the group had consulted with Muslim leaders in other countries, such as Morocco — home to most of the jailed suspects in the bombings — Algeria and Libya, and had their support.

"They agree," Escudero said, referring to the Muslim leaders in the three North African countries. "What I want is that they say so publicly."

The fatwa said that according to the Quran "the terrorist acts of Usama bin Laden (search) and his organization Al Qaeda ... are totally banned and must be roundly condemned as part of Islam."

It added: "Inasmuch as Usama bin Laden and his organization defend terrorism as legal and try to base it on the Quran ... they are committing the crime of 'istihlal' and thus become apostates that should not be considered Muslims or treated as such." The Arabic term 'istihlal' refers to the act of making up one's own laws.

Escudero said a fatwa can be issued by any Muslim leader who leads prayer sessions and as he serves such a role, he himself lawfully issued the edict.

He called it an unprecedented condemnation of bin Laden. "We felt now we had the responsibility and obligation to make this declaration," he said in an interview.

"I hope there is a positive reaction from Muslims," he added.

Asked if the edict meant Muslims had to help police try to arrest the world's most wanted man — who is believed to be hiding along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan — Escudero said: "We don't get involved in police affairs but we do feel that all Muslims are obliged to ... keep anyone from doing unjustified damage to other people."

spence · 03-10-2005, 05:19 PM

The Islamic Commission also said...

Quote:

The Commission has also drawn up a document designed to 'thank the Spanish people and the government for their attitude towards Muslims' since last March 11, in particular for not taking 'disproportionate' measures similar to those which the Sept 11 attacks sparked in the US.

So the answer to your question is...Perhaps they would sooner if we were a little more nice

-spence

Bronko · 03-10-2005, 05:35 PM

Cod Hunter · 03-11-2005, 09:55 AM

spence · 03-11-2005, 01:06 PM

I think you guys are missing the bigger picture. There is a perception in many parts of the world that the USA is against Islam. Bin Laden certianly uses this to incite violence.

The comments by the Islamic Council in Spain directly reflect this. To get mainstream Islam to openly voice opinion against terror, they must feel we share a common interest...

-spence