70 muslim clerics issue fatwa against violence and terrorism

70 muslim clerics issue fatwa against violence and terrorism: Seventy scholars from three Muslim

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Islamic terrorism remains a global issue — with the horrific bombings in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday , which claimed over lives, just the latest example.

In that case, Islamic State IS claimed responsibility , but the extent of its direct involvement remains unclear. What we know for certain is that murdering innocent people in their homes or places of worship, or as they go about their daily business, yields outrage, fear and grief. It turns people against one another, and invites retribution.

Terror is a vicious cycle, always a catastrophe for its victims, inevitably a calamity for its perpetrators, and unavoidably a cost for humanity. But can community leaders help mitigate this? In ongoing research , partly funded by the University of Portsmouth, we asked more specifically how Muslim leaders should respond in communities simultaneously blamed for and victimised by terrorism.

Many Muslims leaders condemn such attacks outright. And in May , 70 Muslim clerics from three Muslim countries — Pakistan, Afghanistan and Indonesia — issued a Fatwa against violence and terrorism in all its forms. The Fatwa said:. We reaffirm that violence and terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic group, as violent extremism and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including violence against civilians and suicide attacks are against the holy principles of Islam.