I didn't get the chance to look at the fatwa issued by CAIR-associated clerics and scholars yesterday. I finally got to look at it on the group's website tonight, and I've added bold type where I see some ambiguity.

The Fiqh Council of North America wishes to reaffirm Islam's absolute condemnation of terrorism and religious extremism.

Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives. There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism. Targeting civilians’ life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attack is haram – or forbidden - and those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not “martyrs.”

The QurÂ’an, IslamÂ’s revealed text, states: "Whoever kills a person [unjustly]Â…it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind." (QurÂ’an, 5:32)

Prophet Muhammad said there is no excuse for committing unjust acts: "Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong to them. Instead, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong (even) if they do evil." (Al-Tirmidhi)

God mandates moderation in faith and in all aspects of life when He states in the Qur’an: “We made you to be a community of the middle way, so that (with the example of your lives) you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind.” (Qur’an, 2:143)

In another verse, God explains our duties as human beings when he says: “Let there arise from among you a band of people who invite to righteousness, and enjoin good and forbid evil.” (Qur’an, 3:104)

Islam teaches us to act in a caring manner to all of God's creation. The Prophet Muhammad, who is described in the Qur’an as “a mercy to the worlds” said: “All creation is the family of God, and the person most beloved by God (is the one) who is kind and caring toward His family."

In the light of the teachings of the QurÂ’an and Sunnah we clearly and strongly state:

1. All acts of terrorism targeting civilians are haram (forbidden) in Islam.

2. It is haram for a Muslim to cooperate with any individual or group that is involved in any act of terrorism or violence.

3. It is the civic and religious duty of Muslims to cooperate with law enforcement authorities to protect the lives of all civilians.

We issue this fatwa following the guidance of our scripture, the Qur’an, and the teachings of our Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him. We urge all people to resolve all conflicts in just and peaceful manners.

We pray for the defeat of extremism and terrorism. We pray for the safety and security of our country, the United States, and its people. We pray for the safety and security of all inhabitants of our planet. We pray that interfaith harmony and cooperation prevail both in the United States and all around the globe.

Now let's look at the problem with this statement. It condemns attacks on "innocent lives" and "civilians". Those phrases constitute loopholes so big you could fly the space shuttle through them.

Define "innocent lives". Was Theo van Gogh an innocent, or did film which "insulted" Islam make him guilty of an offense that required blood atonement? How about Salman Rushdie? Is he an innocent, or may Islamists murder him becasue of The Satanic Verses? Are Jews in Israel innocents, or is there presence there an offense that requires genocide? Was Daniel Pearl an innocent, or did his Jewish faith constitute a legitimate basis for his kidnapping and murder? For that matter, is any non-Muslim an innocent, given that we offend against the Muslim faith by our very refusal to drop our infidel ways and take up the practice of Islam?

But some might argue that the later use of the word "civilians" makes up for that. However, that phrase lends approval to the attack on the Marine Barracks in Lebanon, the murder of a Navy SEAL on a hijacked plane, the bombing of the Khobar towers and the USS Cole, and the suicide attack on the Pentagon on 9/11. For that matter, it also constitutes a justification for continued attacks on US troops by insurgents in Iraq. It is unclear to me if the condemnation extends to embassy personnel or governemnt officials.

So even a cursory reading of the document shows that terrorism is not really condemned by this fatwa -- merely some terrorism, and the extent of the condemnation is unclear. That very ambiguity makes the fatwa fundamentally unacceptable. Why the lack of clarity?

Well, Stephen Emerson points out who the folks behind this fatwa really are, and what their prior connection to terrorists has been.

The Chairman of the Fiqh Council, Taha Jaber Al-Alwani, is an unindicted co-conspirator in the case against Sami al-Arian, the alleged North American leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, whose trial began in June 2005 in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Alwani has been named in court documents as an official of several entities in northern Virginia suspected of being connected to terrorist financing. Documents released in the Al Arian trial show that Alwani funded the Islamic Jihad front groups in Tampa.

Another past trustee of the Fiqh Council, Abdurrahman Alamoudi, is serving a 23-year prison sentence for illegal financial dealings with Libya and immigration fraud, has admitted to his part in a plot to assassinate the Saudi Crown Prince, and has vocally announced his support for the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Additionally Alamoudi was just named by Treasury as having been a financier for Al Qaeda.

In 1998, Fiqh Council member Sheikh Muhammad al-Hanooti, gave a speech calling for jihad against the United States and the United Kingdom, saying that “Allah will curse the Americans and British” and “Allah, the curse of Allah will become true on the infidel Jews and on the tyrannical Americans.” Additionally, Hanooti is strongly linked to Hamas, having served on the board of the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP). A 2002 INS memo extensively documented IAP’s support for HAMAS and noted that the “facts strongly suggest” that IAP is “part of HAMAS’ propaganda apparatus.”

On October 28, 2000, Muzammil Siddiqui, the President of FCNA, at a rally in Lafayette Park in Washington D.C., said, “America has to learn -- if you remain on the side of injustice, the wrath of God will come!"

In the past 4 years, several CAIR officials have been convicted of or charged with various terrorism-related offenses.

CAIR has championed and defended officials of Islamic terrorist groups including Hamas leader Musa Abu Marzook, Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Sami al-Arian, Palestinian Islamic Jihad fundraiser Fawaz Damra, and the radical Egyptian cleric Wagdy Ghoneim.

CAIR has repeatedly attacked the prosecutions of Islamic terrorists arrested and/or convicted since 9-11 and has attacked the government’s freezing of Islamic terrorist fronts as part of a “war against Islam” by the United States.

CAIR has led protests against the deportation of radical Islamic clerics who have called for Jihad or who have been fundraisers for Hamas.

CAIR has asserted that the indictment of Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Sami al-Arian on conspiracy to murder more than 100 people was “politically motivated” and instigated by “the attack dogs of the pro-Israeli lobby."

CAIR has been named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by the family of former FBI official John OÂ’Neill, who was killed on 9-11.

One of the signatories to todayÂ’s fatwa is Fawaz Damra who was convicted of immigration fraud related to his ties to Palestinian Islamic Jihad and denaturalized. He is currently awaiting a deportation hearing.

Another signatory, the Muslim American Society, is a front for the Muslim Brotherhood in the United States and whose publications have repeatedly supported suicide bombings.

Are we really supposed to believe these folks are condemning terorism? One would think that theeir expulsion from the room would be the first move of any group seeking to condemn terrorism in a complete and unambiguous manner. For more complete documentation on the terrorist links, click here.

Posted by: Greg at 06:23 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
Post contains 1389 words, total size 9 kb.