Fatwa against terror

last updated 8 January 2015

Washington, D.C.

In response to last month’s deadly London bombings, Muslim leaders in the U.S. last week issued an edict, or fatwa, declaring that terrorists were “criminals,” not “martyrs.” The Fiqh Council of North America, an influential group of scholars that interprets Islamic law, said that Muslims should not help anyone connected with terrorism or violence, and that they should instead help police “protect all civilians.” British Muslim leaders have made similar proclamations since the July 7 attacks, which killed 52 subway and bus passengers. “There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism,” the Fiqh Council said.