Pakistan

‘Some scholars hesitate to condemn suicide attacks’

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs said that religious scholars often hesitate to condemn suicide attacks.

Express July 04, 2010

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Kazmi said on Sunday that religious scholars often hesitate to condemn suicide attacks which leaves doubt in people’s minds with regards to such attack’s permissibility in Islam.

While talking to reporters, he said that although no renowned scholar has declared suicide bombings as being in line with Islamic teachings, some scholars try explaining terrorists’ actions by attributing them to government policies and drone attacks, which confuses people. “I would say that by this logic even robbers have reasons for committing robbery. It needs to be highlighted that to counter terrorism what is really required is enlightening the masses,” the minister said.

He also said that terrorists are not serving Islam and that they cannot be expected to be going to heaven for killing innocent people. Kazmi said it was not correct to criticise security arrangements as stopping suicide attacks is a very difficult task. He added that the terrorists previously attacked law enforcement agencies to dent their morale and create an impression that if security officials cannot protect themselves they cannot be expected to protect the public.

Kazmi termed the Data Darbar attacks a conspiracy to create sectarian rift. Commenting on a possibility of the involvement of foreign forces in terrorist attacks in Pakistan, he said there could be such an involvement. “Our people are being used by our enemies,” he said.

To a question on the possibility of government resorting to dialogue with the Taliban, Kazmi said, “Dialogue at gunpoint is not possible.”

Published in the Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (7)

Abid Khan | 13 years ago | Reply Any person may he be moulvi, aalim or scholar, justifying suicide attacks under any pretext is a hypocrite. He prescribes the short cut to heaven for others children, but If he is told to commit the suicide attack himself or spare his child for the cause, he will run away with his tail between his legs. Finding ready suicide recruits is because of economic deprivation and injustices in the society. Islam is just an excuse to exploit these poor lads. May God help us out of this rut.

Saif | 13 years ago | Reply Only you call it sacrifice, but religion remains against this 'sacrificial action of intentionally committing a suicide', by a Palestinian bomber, by an Al-Qaeda member, or by a Pakistani Army Soldier. Tell me: If a suicide bomber explodes himself in Pentagon, should he be justified by Islam? Similarly if a Pakistani Army personnel in unform unplugs a bomb-in-hand at war, in Indian camp, should this action be justified by religion? Or if a Palestinian bomber kills 8 Jewish soldiers along with himself, should this action be justified by religion? I don't know what version of religion have you imposed, but this is not in accord with Quranic teachings. And in response to your assetion, I am never with those who call it the reaction of drones, even after knowing that the government selected by 'innocent people' or formed by 'innocent people' has allowed drones to operate in country's region.