Iraqi Shiite cleric urges Muslims to obey laws of residence countries
15/6/2006 15:26
Iraq's top Shiite cleric sent a message Wednesday to Muslims in western
nations, urging them to obey the laws of the countries in which they
live.
The fatwa, a non-binding directive, was delivered at a news conference
in Montreal, Canada, by prominent Shiite Muslims on behalf of Grand Ayatollah
Ali al-Sistani, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)
reported.
"Muslims have undertaken to obey the laws of the country of their
residence and thus they must be faithful to that undertaking," the statement
read.
It condemned all acts of violence and encouraged imams to keep a
watchful eye on what's going on inside their mosques.
The Lebanese Islamic
Center's Linda Clark told reporters at the press conference that the edict means
it is a sin for Muslims in Canada to act against the fatwa, which is a legal
opinion or ruling issued by an Islamic scholar.
They are urged to "protect
the country they are living in and they must not let it be exposed to harm in
any way for they are guests of that country," said Clark.
Sistani's
representative in North America, Sayyed Sayed Nabil Abbas, told reporters the
fatwa compels all Muslims to act in the best interests of their country of
residence by protecting it from all acts that might jeopardize public safety and
security.
The fatwa was delivered on the heels of the stunning arrests by
Canadian police of 17 suspects on terrorism-related charges in southern Ontario
earlier this month. The arrests have fuelled discussion on the implications of
homegrown extremists.
Islamic groups in Canada have come out to condemn
terrorism and violence, while urging Canadians not to rush to judgment or
broadly paint all Muslims with the label of terrorists.
"Those accused must
be considered innocent until proven guilty in a transparent and fair trial that
respects due process and natural justice," The Muslim Council of Montreal said
in a written statement last week.
"If they are found guilty then they should
be viewed as criminals who neither reflect our community's values nor our
faith," the statement said.
Xinhua News
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