UPI : Cleric condemns terrorism

March. 3, 2010 at 8:17 AM

LONDON, March 3 (UPI) -- A Pakistani Muslim scholar, in a lengthy theological ruling against terrorism, rejected al-Qaida's philosophy, saying Islam forbids the massacre of innocents.

Appearing in London, Tahir ul-Qadri told a group of Muslims, clergy, political leaders and police officers his 600-page fatwa rejects violence and called al-Qaida an "old evil with a new name," the BBC reported.

Qadri's movement, called Minhaj ul-Quran International, is growing in Britain, drawing the interest of policymakers and law enforcement heads, the report said. Qadri said his study, resulting from the escalation of militant violence in Pakistan, is a detailed theological rebuttal of every point made by al-Qaida inspired recruiters.

"They (terrorists) can't claim that their suicide bombings are martyrdom operations and that they become the heroes of the Muslim Umma (global brotherhood)," he told his audience. "No, they become heroes of hellfire, and they are leading towards hellfire. "There is no place for any martyrdom and their act is never, ever to be considered jihad."

Rejecting some scholarly rulings on martyrdom as it related to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Qadri said there is no situation in which vengeful acts such as attacks on marketplaces or commuter trains can ever be considered a justifiable act of war.

The report said Qadri has many followers in Pakistan but his Minhaj ul-Quran International has become known in Britain only recently. The movement, which has 10 mosques in cities with significant Muslim communities, is targeting the younger generation, the BBC aid.

Source : http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/03/03/UPI-NewsTrack-TopNews/UPI-42801267622269/