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, 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 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 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."
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