Updated: 06:52 AM EST
Muslims in Spain Issue Fatwa Against bin Laden
Declaration Marks First Anniversary of Madrid Train Bombings
By DANIEL WOOLLS, AP
MADRID, Spain (March 10) - Muslim clerics in Spain issued what they
called the world's first fatwa, or Islamic edict, against Osama 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-Qaida leader.
A message for a loved one, killed in the Madrid train bombings a year
ago, is tied to a fence near Atocha train station.
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-Qaida'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
Osama bin Laden and his organization al-Qaida ... are totally banned
and must be roundly condemned as part of Islam.''
It added: ''Inasmuch as Osama 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.''
03-10-05 18:29 EST
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| User: "Woodswun" |
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| Title: Re: Good News: Muslim Clerics issue Fatwa on Bin Laden |
11 Mar 2005 04:44:02 PM |
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wrote:
Updated: 06:52 AM EST
Muslims in Spain Issue Fatwa Against bin Laden
Declaration Marks First Anniversary of Madrid Train Bombings
By DANIEL WOOLLS, AP
MADRID, Spain (March 10) - Muslim clerics in Spain issued what they
called the world's first fatwa, or Islamic edict, against Osama 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-Qaida leader.
Well, it sure took long enough!
Woods
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