Terrorism: Pakistan's Muslim clerics issue new fatwa

macfranc007 January 17, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Nurudeen Lawal

- More than 1,800 Islamic clerics have united to produce a new book

- The book contains a new fatwa that declares suicide bombings illegal

- The Islamic scholars said nobody has the authority to declare or wage jihad also known as holy war

Over 1,800 Pakistani Muslim clerics have issued an Islamic directive, also called fatwa, forbidding suicide bombings.

The Independent reports that the fatwa is contained in a book planned to be unveiled by the government on Tuesday, January 16.

NAIJ.com gathered that the new fatwa declaring suicide bombings as forbidden or “haram” was issued to curb religious extremism and terrorism that has claimed tens of thousands of casualties since the early 2000s.

The South Asian nation has for years been plagued by violence by Islamist militants who often use suicide bombers and preach that their struggle is a holy war to impose Islamic rule.

Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain reportedly wrote in the book: “This Fatwa provides a strong base for the stability of a moderate Islamic society.

“We can seek guidance from this Fatwa for building a national narrative in order to curb extremism in keeping with the golden principles of Islam.”

The Pakistani scholars declared in the book that no individual or group has the authority to declare and wage jihad, also known as holy war.

The Muslim clerics said suicide bombings violate key Islamic teachings and were as such forbidden.

The Pakistani government has been accused by both foreign and domestic critics of protecting radical groups for political and military purposes.

The government is also accused of shielding religious extremists and hate preachers in mosques.

Pakistani officials have, however, frequently denied the allegations claiming the government has made significant moves in destroying militant outfits such as the Pakistani Taliban.

NAIJ.com previously reported that Egyptian president, Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, attended an Orthodox Christmas mass on Saturday, January 6.

The attendance by the Muslim president was in a show of solidarity with Egypt's embattled Christians.

NAIJ.com gathers that in anticipation of possible attacks by Islamic militants, tens of thousands of soldiers and police had been deployed outside churches across the country.

At church entrances, worshipers had to undergo body searches as most churches were now equipped with metal detectors.

Speaking to a jubilant congregation at the service, el-Sissi stated: "We, with the grace of God, are offering a message of peace and love from here, not just to Egyptians or to the region, but to the entire world.

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