2010/03/02

A prominent Muslim scholar Dr Tahir ul-Qadri is issuing a fatwa on suicide bombing and terrorism. In his 600-page religious ruling Dr. ul-Qadri states that Islam forbids the massacre of innocent citizens and suicide bombings.

Ul-Qadri goes further than other Muslim scholars before him and disagrees with scholars who believe that conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is an exceptional situation where “martyrdom” attacks can be justified.

Shahid Mursaleen, spokesman for Dr. Ul-Qadri’s organization in the UK said the fatwa challenges the promises of an afterlife for suicide bombers and sets out point-by-point theological arguments against the rhetoric used by al-Qaeda inspired recruiters.

Can this fatwa instill doubt in the minds of suicide bombers? If ‘martyrdom’ is considered an offence to Islam, could it stop suicide bombings?