Iraqi fatwa deems terrorist violence during Ramadan unforgivable sin

By Mohammed al-Qaisi in Baghdad
For Al-Shorfa.com
2010-08-26

[Joseph Eid/AFP/Getty Images] The fatwa will be distributed to mosques to be read during Friday prayer services.

Preachers in mosques across Iraq on Friday (August 27th) will read a fatwa condemning terrorism during the month of Ramadan and urging citizens to unite and co-operate with security forces against terrorist groups.

The fatwa, issued by The Islamic Academic Assembly of Iraq, considers the attacks carried out by al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups during the holy month of Ramadan "a major, unforgivable sin, and [the terrorists'] guilt is substantial and great".

The new fatwa was signed by 38 religious scholars and eight professors of modern Islamic jurisprudence, and was issued during a Baghdad conference Sunday (August 22nd) that brought together Sunni and Shia Arab and Kurdish scholars, as well as three Christian clerics.

"The fatwa will be distributed to all mosques Friday, which is the third Friday in the holy month of Ramadan," said Sheikh Abdullah Hussain, spokesman for the Islamic Academic Assembly of Iraq. "The preachers will read it to the citizens."

The fatwa included 12 main articles urging citizens to support and co-operate with Iraqi security forces in combating terrorism and enhancing security, to reject militias, and to boycott religious and political figures that try to incite sectarianism.

"Our dear country is today going through an important, historical stage," the fatwa read. "Everyone must stand together and unite in order to get past this stage and support the future of the country, which will not be built as long as the terrorist groups, the black cells of death, and the remnants of criminal gangs are trying to attack its children, young and old people, and all living things."

"Therefore, the assembly of scholars believes that for the current stage in Iraq, and after the withdrawal of US forces from the country, all Iraqis, regardless of their religious or sectarian affiliations, should come together to support and back the security forces in their war on these groups," the fatwa continued. "Anyone who takes part, supports, or sympathizes with these terrorist groups is considered a sinner, and in this case, no alms, zakat or prayers shall be accepted from that individual."

Sheikh Muhsin al-Karkush, imam and khatib of a Baghdad mosque, said this new fatwa is the clearest in years.

"It showed to citizens what their duties and rights are towards the Iraqi security forces and how they should deal with the terrorists," he said. "The fatwa will reach all mosques. We will focus on villages, rural areas, and cities that suffered from terrorist attacks."

University of Baghdad professor of Islamic jurisprudence Sheikh Saad al-Elwani, a signatory of the fatwa, said that "the fatwa has pulled the rug out from under the terrorist groups that make religion and sectarianism a cover for their crimes, like the snake that uses tree leaves as a den".

"It is illogical and unreasonable to link a bunch of terrorists to Islam," al-Elwani said. "They do not represent Islam, they do not represent Iraq, and this fatwa is proof of that."

The fatwa also urged "terrorists and deceived people who were involved with them to repent to God, stop their acts, fear God in this holy month of Ramadan, spare the blood of innocent people, and surrender themselves to the security forces before Iraqis arrest and turn them in by force".

Many Iraqis said they supported the fatwa.

"The fatwa came at exactly the right time," said Fallujah resident Malik Abd, 49. "The holy month of Ramadan and the withdrawal of the US forces are a good occasion to remind Iraqis of their holy duty in combating terrorism and cooperating with the army and police."

"This fatwa has shown us the extent of our strength in our unity and the greatness of our religion that calls for tolerance, peace, and rejection of all forms of violence," said 52-year-old Baghdad resident Nouri Sabah al-Jumaili. "This fatwa will be harsher on the terrorists than the bullets of policemen and the pursuit of army forces."

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