The 2nd Anniversary of the September events
The Muslim World league Once Again Condemns Terrorism
and
Reveals its own efforts in combating it
In a statement marking the second anniversary of September 11th 2001 terrorist
attack that took place in the United States of America, His Excellency Dr.
Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, Secretary General of the Muslim World
league reiterated the League's strong condemnation of all terrorist acts, and
made it clear that those who carried out the attacks have committed a cardinal
sin, which is prohibited by Islam. God says: {Nor take life – which God Has
made sacred- except for a just cause} 17/33
Dr. Al-Turki said further that the Muslim World league, which is a non
governmental organization, is striving to combat all evils and to create
harmony among mankind through the principles of justice, charity and tolerance,
in conformity with God's saying: {God commands justice, the doing of good and
liberality to kith and kin, and He forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice
and rebellion. He instructs you that ye may receive admonition.} 16/90
Moreover, Dr. Al-Turki pointed out that the League's uncompromising attitude
towards terrorism is everybody's secret. Because, since its inception in 1961,
it has worked within the framework of a global Islamic charter, which advocates
tolerance, communication, cooperation and establishment of justice between the
various peoples. Through its various councils and conferences, as well as its
cooperation with the various governments and international institutions, the
League demonstrated early apathy, condemnation and readiness to combat
terrorism. In 1987, the League was among the participants of the 5th Islamic
Summit Conference which was held in Kuwait, and which, in the presence of the
then UN Secretary General Javier Perez De Quellar, categorically condemned all
forms of international terrorism, and which, while proclaiming that Muslims are
ever ready to cooperate with the international community to eradicate
terrorism, called upon governments
and international institutions to convene a conference under the auspices of
the UN for the sole purpose of drawing a definition of international terrorism.
The League was also present at the 7th Islamic Summit Conference, which was
held in Casablanca, Morocco in 1995, and which, among other things, condemned
all forms of terrorism.
According to Dr. Al-Turki, the League has convened and participated in a
number of conferences and symposia to promote tolerance and to appeal for an
all out war against terrorism. In fact, terrorism is one of the most obnoxious
types of mischief in the land and deserves severe punishment, if the
inviolability of the human being is to be safeguarded and his rights protected,
Dr. Al;-Turki said. God says: {The punishment of those who wage war against God
and His Apostle, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land
is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from
opposite sides, or exile from the land: That is their disgrace in this world,
and a heavy punishment is theirs in the hereafter.} 5/33
Dr. Al-Turki enumerated the most prominent conferences and symposia during
which the League made it clear that Islam prohibits murder and combats
terrorism as follows:
1– Symposium on the image of Islam in the Western Media – 2001
2- 16th Session of the League's Islamic Fiqh Council 2001
3- 2nd Makkah Al-Mukarramah Conference 2001
4- 4th General Islamic Conference 2002
5- 37th Session of the Constituent Council of the league 2002
6- 3rd Makkah Al-Mukarramah conference 2002
7- 19th Session of the World Supreme Council for Mosques 2003
The following two statements were issued during this 19th Session:
1- Makkah Al-Mukarramah Appeal against pernicious thought
2- Statement on the prohibition of acts of terrorism by the Sharia (Isl.
Law)
Resolutions and recommendations issued by these conferences were widely
publicized Dr. Al-Turki said; and went on to emphasize the fact that the League
is internationally renowned for its contribution in the fight against
terrorism. Its efforts have been highly praised by the Chairman of the European
Union's High Commission Mr. Romano Prodi during an Islamic symposium held at
the Islamic
Center in Brussels in Belgium, as did the Italian Premier Mr. Silvio Berlusconi
during a visit to the Islamic Cultural Center in Rome, Italy. Dr. Al-Turki then
referred to the League's definition of terrorism, which was issued by the 16th
Session of the League's Islamic Fiqh Council in 2001, and was welcomed by the
delegates to the "Earth Summit" conference in Johannesburg, South Africa in
2002. Later on the definition was adopted by several Islamic organizations as a
framework of combating terrorism. Within the same context, the League called on
those American intellectuals who published a statement entitled "What we are
fighting for" to cooperate with Muslims for the common good, and appealed to
influential Western countries to recognize the fact that Islam is totally and
categorically against terrorism, and to strive to promote dialogue and
cooperation among mankind.
Furthermore, Dr. Al-Turki expressed the bewilderment and the amazement of the
Muslims at the virulent publicity campaign that links between Islam and
terrorism, and appealed to all the cultural, religious and political
institutions in the world to separate between Islam and the renegade terrorist
gangs, and to cooperate with the League and other Islamic organizations in
stating the truth and elucidating Islam's attitude with regard to bloodshed:
God says: {On that account: We ordained for the children of Israel that if any
one slew a person- unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the
land- it would be as if he slew the whole people: And if any one saved a life,
it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.} 5/32. Dr. Al-Turki
then called upon international organizations to join the League in implementing
a joint program designed to promote the values and principles of tolerance and
to combat terrorism.
In conclusion, Dr. Al-Turki reaffirmed his appeal to peace loving nations,
peoples and organizations to carefully study the Sharia's endeavor to protect
mankind against all kinds of evil, and expressed the League's readiness to
contribute to any effort that aims at realizing security and peace for mankind.
God says:
{Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another
in sin and rancour}
ABDUL WAHID OSMAN BELAL
