July 29, 2005

I hope the upward trend in this kind of anti-terrorism fatwa is going to continue, since it's sorely needed:

(AP) American Muslim scholars who interpret religious law for their community issued an edict Thursday condemning terrorism against civilians in response to the wave of deadly attacks in Britain and other countries.

In the statement, called a fatwa, the 18-member Fiqh Council of North America wrote that people who commit terrorism in the name of Islam were "criminals, not `martyrs."'

[...]

The Muslim Public Affairs Council, an advocacy group based in Los Angeles, started the "National Anti-Terrorism Campaign" last year, urging Muslims to monitor their own communities, speak out more boldly against violence and work with law enforcement officials.

And, of course, Scotland Yard also seems to have declared a fatwa:

Although as Zaki Baidawi of the UK based Council of Imams and Mosques has pointed out, nobody listens to fatwas anyway.

What we need, rather than posturing for the press, is moderate Muslims to get to grips with the violent texts in the Qur'an and produce a new hermeneutic for the 21st century. Some Muslims have finally acknowledged this need, e.g. Ziauddin Sardar, Irshad Manji.

http://mcbwatch.blogspot.com /

Posted by: MCB Watch at August 1, 2005 11:18 AM

I suppose it's too little too late. And I will read through your links and blog more on the topic. But I'm also inclined to feel that every little bit of anti-terrorism rhetoric is bound to help, though these people may, I suppose, be preaching to the choir.

Posted by: Jeremy Brown at August 2, 2005 12:31 AM

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