Thirty-one scholars in Pakistan from all schools of Islamic thought issued a fatwa (religious decree) declaring suicide attacks, armed insurgency against a state and use of force in the name of imposing shariah (Islamic law) are forbidden in Islam.
The decree also stated suicide attackers and their supporters were traitors and condemned terrorism and extremism. The fatwa further said jihad falls under the jurisdiction of an Islamic state and forbid the use of force in imposing Islamic laws.
The declaration called for action against all those fanning the forces of extremism. In terms of blasphemy, the fatwa called for true implementation of the law and discouraged mob violence in this respect. No further details were available as to what was meant by the “true implementation” of blasphemy laws.
The scholars gathered for an event organized by the Islamic Research Institute of the International Islamic University Islamabad. The fatwa was issued in a seminar titled Reconstruction of Pakistani society in the light of the Charter of Medina.
