Top Shi'ite Cleric Bans Muslims From U.S. War

Daily News/Yahoo/World - Reuters ^ | Tuesday September 18 12:15 PM ET | By Joseph Logan

[MrBambaLaMamba]

An influential Shi'ite Muslim religious authority issued an edict Tuesday banning Muslims from joining U.S. military action to avenge deadly suicide attacks on the United States.

``It is not permissible for any Islamic party, country, ruler or political movement to extend any military, security or economic assistance to the United States in its war against any Muslim country or any Muslim faction,'' Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah said in a religious ruling faxed to Reuters.

Fadlallah is a former spiritual mentor of Lebanon's Iranian-backed Hizbollah guerrilla group, but he is widely respected as a scholar among Shi'ites abroad, including moderates.

Last week he condemned as ``horrifying'' the attacks in which Saudi-born militant leader Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) is the prime suspect.

Tuesday's ruling followed a similar edict by Jordanian religious scholars and reflected wariness in the Muslim Middle East of U.S. plans to build a global coalition against ''terrorism'' after the attacks on New York and Washington.

President Bush (news - web sites) has said bin Laden is wanted ``dead or alive,'' and speculation is running high that the first target in what he calls ``a war on terror'' will be Afghanistan (news - web sites), whose ruling Taliban Islamist group shelters bin Laden.

Fadlallah has warned that exacting indiscriminate vengeance for the attacks will feed ire over U.S. Middle East policy and particularly its backing for Israel, which many Arabs see as the root cause of the suicide attacks on New York and Washington.

``The rulings of the Americans are built on suspicion, not judicial proof, which makes the matter one of American political interests, as it needs to do something to restore its prestige and prove its strength,'' said the cleric.

Fadlallah, who survived an assassination attempt during Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, has assumed a largely spiritual leadership role after falling out with Hizbollah's Iranian patrons.

The group, a main force in driving Israel from south Lebanon last year after a 22-year occupation, pioneered the use of suicide bombings against Western targets during the civil war.

One suicide bombing destroyed the U.S. embassy and another killed more than 200 U.S. marines camped near Beirut airport. Many foreigners were kidnapped and some killed.

Hizbollah has denied any links to the hostage-takings or bombings.

In a separate statement, the radical Palestinian group Hamas also warned Arabs and Muslims not to take part in possible U.S. military action against Afghanistan.

``Hamas urges Arab and Muslim nations not to give approval, support or cover for this announced war on Afghanistan or any other Islamic or Arab country,'' it said in a statement faxed to Reuters in Beirut.

Hamas, which has carried out suicide bomb attacks on Israelis during the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation, warned that a war on ``terrorism'' was an Israeli ploy to end the uprising.

``The enemy has incited America and the West against the Arabs, Muslims and the Palestinian resistance...to combat what it calls Islamic terrorism,'' it said.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

These days you can count on anyone.
What are we going to do now?

Gee, I wonder if this edict covers US gov't personnel?

[DoughtyOne]

Why would Reuters desiminate this tripe? Give these Muslem Clerics the attention they deserve, NONE!

[Maelstrom]

Bomb the hell out of his mosques and communications.

[B Knotts]

FYI BUMP.

[B Knotts]

FYI BUMP.

[lilylangtree]

Cowardly! When it's clear that the Koran doesn't advocate killing innocents, yet Muslims won't join in the fight to eliminate terrorism committed by other Muslims. I see hypocrisy in its highest form.

[B Knotts]

FYI BUMP.

[Javin]

The Taliban are not even Shi'ite muslims, I belive they are Sunni muslims.

[redhawk]

If Muslims refuse to join in the fight against terrorism then can we presume that terrorism is an integral part of Islam? I don't believe the Koran advocates terroism either, but the mindset among many Muslims is that it does.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

A search returns:

"Iran's conservative religious leaders base their legitimacy on their Shiite strain of Islam, while the equally conservative Taliban leaders base theirs on the majority Sunni strain."

[Woodkirk]

And when the Islamic imams forbid Moslems from fighting against Islamic terrorists, what does that tell you???

[CatoRenasci]

Well, if they really want to turn it into a war between Islam and Western Civilization, I suppose we could accomodate them, with a heavy heart and full bomb bays.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

"The Shi'ites are doing so well, they are thinking of dropping one "I" and the "E" off the end of their name." -Johnny Carson

[BlueLancer]

Now, I guess, we'll see just how loyal "our" Muslims are.

[Constitution Day]

I agree. I think this cleric is full of Shi'ite.

[newwahoo]

"If Americans and Israel can shut up, like Bush suggested, this can be a small bump in the road."

Yup, we should wait till they break out the anthrax. Though I suspect you'd still be singing the same tune.

[cicero's_son]

"If Americans and Israel can shut up, like Bush suggested, this can be a small bump in the road."

I'm sorry, but this is so naive. A bump in the road? Like what, Hitler's invasion of Czechoslovakia? Like Pearl Harbor? Like our airstrikes against the aspirin factory in the Sudan?

We are facing a belief system that is completely incompatible with ours. Our enemies are willing to die by the millions--invite apocalypse--to destroy us. Our allies are fat, greedy oil barons who simply want to be able to continue buying gold-plated toilets with their ill-gotten money.

Even if you accept that only 1% of these people are radicalized to the extent that they would cheer our deaths (the actual number is much higher), that's still some 20,000,000 people who would gladly deliver an Islamic bomb to our doorstep. The death toll next time could be measured in the millions.

I don't relish the thought of this protracted war, believe me, but you are kidding yourself if you think it can be a "bump in the road."

[Romulus]

A number of defections like this are unfortunately inevitable. But what does Sheihk Fadlallah really think, and say, in private? Should we expect those who may be willing to assist us in secret to give themselves away? In wars such as this, appearances mean nothing.

Dubya needs to continue to cobble together whatever assistance he can in the Muslim world. His own unfortunate call for a "crusade" was not helpful. Neither will extremist and hysterical anti-Muslim positions that will make it even harder for us to find quiet assistance from those allies of convenience whose help may be available, for a price.

[BikerNYC]

Now, I guess, we'll see just how loyal "our" Muslims are.

Damn right. And is someone keeping a check on those damn Amish and what their religious leaders are telling them about defending this country?.

[ObjetD'art]

My God! How DARE you bring a voice of objectivity to this thread!!

[B Knotts]

I don't consider the murder of 5,000+ of my fellow Americans "a small bump in the road."

[KC Burke]

...that will make it even harder for us to find quiet assistance from those allies of convenience whose help may be available, for a price.

Might it not be an appropriate time to expect Muslim clerics willing to live in peace with other cultures of the world to speak out in opposition to this stance? If the time is not right after this atrocity, it will never be right. I hear few voices from Islam, speaking other than in the manner of this fellow. That speaks volumns.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

It's a trend! -

India's chief Muslim cleric warns US, Pakistan http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3ba792780acb.htm

[The_Reader_David]

Oh, gee. I guess we'll have to do without the Shi'ites. I had rather hoped they'd be in this on our side: after all bin Laden wants to reestablish a Califate, and the Shi'ites regard the Califate as illegitimate and heretical, with Mohammed's son Ali having been his legitimate successor.

[Romulus]

Vocal support would be great, but no one who supports us openly will have access to "special" information that he might just be willing to let us see. We can't defeat this enemy with just our great big bombs. We need some sneaky, traitorous bastards on our payroll.

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[UB355]

Crusade ?

def

3.  concerted effort:  a vigorous concerted action to promote or eliminate something

What's your problem with that ?

[Aquinasfan]

``It is not permissible for any Islamic party, country, ruler or political movement to extend any military, security or economic assistance to the United States in its war against any Muslim country or any Muslim faction,'' Sheikh Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah said in a religious ruling faxed to Reuters.

That seals it for me. No Muslim in good conscience can work to kill Bin Laden. This religion is a joke.

[dandelion]

Big hootie - a Lebanese self-appointed Shi'ite leader tells U.S. Muslims to do what HE says? They'll listen to him about as much as I will - just enough to wave the New York salute in his face. Then they'll get back to work burying their dead from last Tuesday's attacks. There will be MANY more Muslims who will be glad to fly over this imam's house on the way to Afghanistan and salute him more personally...

[Woodkirk]

I pray that God would help you, Lady, and those who think like you before it is too late. Read Sura 9 in the Koran -- try the whole chapter -- then tell me again about Islam as a religion of love.

[Woodkirk]

And how objective is Sura 9 in the Koran???

[Woodkirk]

And how objective is Sura 9 in the Koran???

[Woodkirk]

You are correct, it does speak volumes , and the fair to moderate Muslims don't speak at all because they are either dead or threatened with death if they dare oppose the head honcho.

[Woodkirk]

You are correct, it does speak volumes , and the fair to moderate Muslims don't speak at all because they are either dead or threatened with death if they dare oppose the head honcho.

[ohioman]

So what... We don't care for you. War is here and we will end it on our terms. If some countries don't like what we say and how we go about it, then they can kiss my American @ss!

[Romulus]

The problem is that:

1. It's interpreted as a Western assault on the entire Muslim religion. We are not at war with the entire MUslim religion.

2. We're having enough trouble as it is getting cooperation from Muslim nations. Yesterday Pakistan gave us fly-over permission. This will be very helpful. Iran is considering neutrality (not as helpful, but we'll take it).

We'd be fools to throw away whatever scraps of cooperation we can find, simply for the sake of a passing rhetorical flourish. OK?

[VeritatisSplendor]

Islam always puts the Muslim first. A Muslim cannot be executed for killing a non-Muslim, but the non-Muslim can be executed for offenses far short of murder against a Muslim. A non-Muslim cannot bear witness against a Muslim. When Muslims live under non-Muslim rule, then non-peace, i.e. jihad, exists. Perhaps Muslims might be able to justify according to the Koran taking non-Muslims under their protection, but to take aggressive action against fellow Muslims in a non-Muslim cause?

Only if Bin Laden and his terrorists could be declared anathema and non-Muslim, I would think. And none of the imams who say Islam is a religion of peace are stepping out on that branch. and the peaceful ones aren't the ones who fight the wars.

Mrs VS

[Magician]

And when the Islamic Imams forbid Moslems from fighting against Islamic terrorists, what does that tell you???

It tells me that we cannot expect much cooperation from any Islamic country that doesn't feel threatened by the fundementalists.

[Don Joe]

"What are we going to do now?"

Other than thank him for ordering members of the fifth column to identify themselves to the US Government?

Hell if I know.

[Don Joe]

"The Shiites in Afghanistan, with Iranian support, have been going after the Taliban for some time now."

Has Iran ever thanked us for risking our pilots lives and war planes, and the millions of dollars spent in the process of ensuring the safety of the Iraqi Shiites?

[Don Joe]

"I think this cleric is full of Shi'ite."

...soon to be replaced by Trinitite.