LONDON: Eminent Muslim scholar and founder of the Minhajul Quran International, Dr Tahirul Qadri on Tuesday issued a fatwa that calls for an absolute condemnation of terrorism and declares such acts as un-Islamic and those carrying out these despicable activities as disbelievers.

In his decree Dr Qadri described al Qaeda as an "old evil with a new name" that has not been sufficiently challenged. He said Islam forbids the massacre of innocent citizens and suicide bombings. Quoting extensively from the holy Quran and the hadis of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be upon Him) Dr Qadri hit hard on the terrorists, describing them as misguided and brain washed people who had no idea about real Islam. He said the 600-page fatwa bans suicide bombing "without any excuses, pretexts, or exceptions".

The 59-year-old scholar announced categorically that suicide attacks against civilians were not only condemned by Islam but render the perpetrators totally out of the fold of Islam.

According to Dr Qadri, modern terrorists justify their indiscriminate killings by claiming that Islamic scripture allows such campaigns in war. However, he opened new grounds by citing Islamic sources, which prohibit killing of women, children, elders, religious leaders, businessmen, non-combatants and even service personnel not engaged in aggression.

"Contrary to the mindset of the perpetrators of the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York or the July 7, 2005 bombings in London, damaging enemy property or avenging a wrong done by another is strictly prohibited by sound Islamic scholarship," Dr Qadri told the audience.

"Those who are committing terrorist acts from Pakistan and Afghanistan and claiming it as jihad, do not know what jihad is. What they are doing is forbidden. There will not be jannat (paradise) for them," he added.