ABC News : Cleric's fatwa condemns martyrs to hellfire

By Rachael Brown in London

Posted Wed Mar 3, 2010 6:04am AEDT

A leading Pakistani cleric has issued a religious ruling in Britain condemning terrorism, saying suicide bombers are destined for hell.

Dr Muhammad Tahir-ul-Qadri's 600 page religious ruling, or fatwa, is a very different message to the interpretation of Islam in which martyrs go to heaven.

Dr Qadri says there is nothing written in the Koran that could be used to justify suicide bombings, rather, he warns that Islam condemns such acts.

"These kind of activities will lead them to hellfire and they are not involved in any kind of martyrdom operation," he said.

"Rather they are doing an act which is an act of disbelief."

Dr Qadri preaches in Pakistan, but says he wanted to spread his message in the western world where youths are being brainwashed and misguided on the concepts of Islam.