Fatwa issued against bin Laden

2005-03-10 21:23

Madrid - Spain's Islamic Commission, grouping the nation's Muslim community, issued a fatwa against al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, in the name of whose network last year's Madrid train bombings were claimed.

The five-page fatwa declared bin Laden "outside Islam" on Thursday, adding that "bin Laden, al-Qaeda and all those who try to justify terrorism by basing it on the holy Qu'ran, are outside Islam".

The fatwa said that "the terrorist acts" of al-Qaeda and its leader "are totally forbidden and the object of strong condemnation by Islam".

Given the group's support for "the legality of terrorism", bin Laden and al-Qaeda "must not be considered Muslims nor treated as such", the fatwa read.

It furthermore called for everyone to avoid deploying the term "Islam or Islamist to refer to these miscreants".

Mansour Escudero, who leads the Federation of Islamic religious entities (Feeri) and co-secretary general of the Spanish government-created commission earlier told AFP the commission was inviting Spanish-based imams to condemn terrorism at Friday prayers.

First anniversary of Madrid blasts

Friday marks the first anniversary of the Madrid blasts, which claimed the lives of 191 people and injured a further 1 900.

The attacks have been blamed on mainly Moroccan Islamic extremists loyal to bin Laden.

"We have called on imams to make a formal declaration condemning terrorism and for a special prayer for all the victims of terrorism," Escudero said.

The commission has also drawn up a document designed to "thank the Spanish people and the government for their attitude towards Muslims" since last March 11, in particular for not taking "disproportionate" measures similar to those which the September 11 attacks sparked in the United States.

The commission called on Muslims to take part in Friday's commemorative programme being organised by Spanish authorities and community groups and to work with them to ensure terrorism was defeated.

According to Muslim associations, there are about 230 000 immigrant Muslims in Spain, mostly in the northeastern region of Catalonia, in addition to some 260 000 native Spaniards who profess the faith.

- AFP