A policeman stands guard on the roof of a Church during a special service for suicide bombing victims at a church in Peshawar. PHOTO: AFP
A day after the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) condoned the Sept 22 twin suicide attacks at Peshawar’s All Saints Church, a group of clerics from the Barelvi school of thought said that the Taliban were defaming Islam.
TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid told the BBC Urdu on Friday that his group did not carry out the church attack, but it believed the bombing was according to the Islamic Shariah.
Leaders of the Sunni Ittehad Council said that Shahid’s statement was contrary to the teachings of Islam, a religion that calls for respecting all places of worship. “The Taliban’s claim that the church attack is in line with the principles of Islam is wrong and un-Islamic,” said the clerics in a joint-statement. “Islam forbids damaging the places of worship of all religions.” The leading ulema and scholars who issued the statement included Nazim-e-Aala Jamia Naeemia’s Maulana Raghib Hussain Naeemi, Pakistan Sunni Tehreek chief Sarwat Ijaz Qadri, National Mushaikh Council Pakistan President Pir Khawaja Ghulam Qutubuddin, Khairul Ummam Foundation Pakistan President Pir Karamat Ali, Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Rasalat Mahaz Vice President Allama Razae Mustafa and Sunni Ittehad Council’s Pir Atharul Qadri.
They said Islam provides complete security to religious minorities and affiliating terrorist activities with Islam is tantamount to defaming the religion. The TTP has flouted the principles of Islam, they said. “Shahid’s statement is based on the ideology of terrorists, which has no connection with or roots in Islam. Such a stance is against the Holy Quran and Sunnah,” they added.
The scholars and leaders also opposed the decision to hold peace talks with Taliban, saying the government was rubbing salt on the wounds of the 50,000 victims of terrorism across the country. “If the government holds peace talks with the Taliban, it should also hold dialogues with all prisoners who have committed heinous crimes,” the clerics stated.
SIC chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza in a separate statement said that the state must fight with rebels otherwise existence of the state would be endangered.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2013.
COMMENTS (20)
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@asim:
Good and brave in-depth view, Asim. However I don't share your conclusion about them 'losing', and am rather pessimistic.
With also the current of global foreign Wahhabi and Salafi theologies, I believe the mainstream Pakistani Sunni population may not only have given these local and foreign groups' ideologies weight, but actually adopted similar beliefs themselves, apart from other delusions.
There was always a historic religious nationalist mindset problem in Pakistan, which started against the Hindus across the border and locally. The Barelvis are not immune either, as seen with the blasphemy controversies, usually harmful to minorities, and persecution of the Ahmedis. But it is appreciated that they are the 'relatively' better choice by default because they haven't condoned and indulged in such insane full blown religio-political militancy and terrorism in Pak compared to Deoband or Ahl-e-hadith influenced counterparts, and usually denounce such horrific atrocities.
The Ulema woke up just a little too late. Why did they not come forward with this statement in 2011 when massacre of praying Ahmadis occurred in their place of worship in Lahore and led to 90 dead and hundreds wounded? These Ulema are fickle and have double standards. Show them the $ sign and an exit visa and they will vote for you. I have no faith in their judgement. They bicker over moon sighting, which is a scientific matter, as if they are the only ones whose eyes are to be trusted. I still give them credit that FINALLY, they did speak up. Still not all maulanas/ muftis joined them but what the heck.
I am proud of our Islamic scholars, who have done so much for Pakistan and are renowned in the whole Muslim world. Allah continue to bless them always.
@Gingo: Christians are only 2% of the population, and in some places almost negligible so it is impractical. Policemen and security guards should carry out their duties regardless of religion, and they have proven adept at protecting minorities. Its a non-issue.
Raj-USA: This is why Indians should not comment on Pakistani articles. You have a complete lack of understanding and your false prejudices blind you. Stop being so obsessive.
Bravo, to clerics and scholars for condemning the statement made by the TTP spokes-person and also supporting minorities including their places of worship. As an Indian who had a very poor opinion about the clergy in Pakistan has changed my mind and salute their words of wisdom on teachings of Islam and speaking clearly against TTP's twisted ideology on Sharia and Islam. The learned scholars have given a sound advice to all not to hold talks as it would tantamount to rubbing salt on 50000 victims of terrorism across the country. They are dead right on this issue as TTP has increased its barbarities and put more difficult conditions for talks since the time political parties and the ruling party has made talks offer to them. Talks cannot be held with an insane who is not only pointing the gun at your head but firing it too.
Interesting picture. In pakistan, vultures are deputed for guarding meat. Everyone knows how Salman Taseer was martyred.
What do you say Munawar Hassan, Maulana Fazal, Maulana Sami and the ardent supporter of taliban IK?? Why this silence?
How can the same clerics who call for destruction of Ahmadi places of worship change their tune and now say all places of worship should be protected. This is hypocrisy and unlikely to reduce levels of violence. The correct remedy is to excommunicate all members of terror groups indulging in violence against anybody, across the board and refuse them entry into Mosques or perform rites for them. The criminals taking shelter under the protective umbrella of religion have to be exposed and the ground cut from under their feet.
Don’t trust these clerics at all. These clerics were shouting "death for Ahmadies'" last month in Lahore and called for persecution against the minority group. There must be an injection of $$$s that made them cry foul.
The political and religious parties were providing support to the talibans. Earlier the army was doing so. The army lost control of talibans and now the political parties and the religious parties have also lost control of the talibans. Now it looks like the talibans are ruling Pakistan. Not a good sign at all. PML-N is afraid of the talibans after the plot to kidnap Shabaz Sharif's son was unearthed. Imran Khan is also terrified because he does not even have a religious credential. Army is also shy and hesitant. PPP does not care much and MQM cannot do anything alone. Everyone is looking after their own interests and the country is sinking. Religious minorities shall continue to face the worst.
And still the Government and Imran khan calls them "our Brothers"!! What a shame!
The mullahs could have sorted and settled this issue long ago but nobody had the inclination to do so in the face of trained gunners and bomb blasters..........not even the GOP 'et al.' Salams
Even if it happen to be according to Islamic holy book says attacking church is ok , why not Islamic scholars say " we do not agree with that" Until Muslims reach that level of self thinking , they are doomed to go down line.
No one doubts the stance on the Barelvi ulema on these matters. They have a fairly long history going back at least a century of promoting and cultivating better relations with the Shia and the other minorities. The real problem is with the Deobandis and the Ahl e Hadith from among whom militant groups of various stripes have emerged. The Deobandi scholars have been very conditional in their condemnation of these activities, doing it selectively, often privately, and almost always putting the condition of criticizing the drone attacks first. While the drone attacks have certainly fueled radicalization and militancy, it is a delusion to think that they are the sole cause of militancy in Pakistan. Moreover, the ulema claim to be the guardians of religion so any corruption of the religious tradition and the killing of tens of thousands in its name should be a bigger affront to them then the killing of a few hundred or thousand innocent civilians in such foreign attacks (which is also horrible and needs to be condemned and resisted). But they should hold Islam and Muslims to a higher standard regardless of what other people do. They should take responsibility for why it is that this group emerged from within them and engage in some serious self-criticism. And they should be honest in their criticism, and courageous, or they do not deserve the title of scholars, they do not deserve our respect, they do not deserve to be listened to, and they do not deserve the right to speak on behalf of God and the religion. I think this is as true of the politically minded Deobandis as it is of the scholars sitting in the major madrassas who remain quiet and the imams in the mosque who continue to preach paranoia and hatred. They are an embarrassment, and they are losing in their own terms, failing to achieve their ideals, failing to honor their own religious tradition, and failing to take care of their community.
so why don't you book taliban for blasphemy and declare them wajib-ul-qatl
If TTP is unislamic and hence not muslims, they become kafirs. What is the ziya they pay to the tribals or govt to protect them Why cant they be treated like the rest of the kafirs, ie kidnap, rape, kill , loot and make them migrate elsewhere.
Only Christian Policemen should be preferred to guard Churches. The anti christian element is prevalent in all sections of society and armed forces are no exceptions
I can't understand - when someone kills another, why do you even get into Theological arguments? Just catch them, prosecute them and jail them. Period.
Yaaaaawwwwwnnnnnnn ..... !!! Space-filler of a news item, at best...