Grand Mufti, Others Denounce London Bombings
Mushtak Parker & P.K. Abdul Ghafour, Arab News

LONDON/JEDDAH, 9 July 2005 — The Kingdom’s grand mufti yesterday strongly denounced the deadly blasts that rocked London, saying Islam strictly prohibits the killing of innocent people. He also censured the terrorists for tarnishing the image of Islam by attaching their heinous crimes to the religion.

Saudi condemnation of the London attacks continues. Here, it’s the Grand Mufti of the mosque in Mecca. He continuess,

“Attributing to Islam acts of individual or collective killings, bombings, destruction of properties and the terrorizing of peaceful people is unfair, because they are alien to the divine religion,” said the mufti, who also heads the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars, Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority.

“Islam is a religion of reforms and righteousness. It envisages the progress of humanity and takes it from darkness to light. It also calls for respecting agreements and prohibits their violation,” the mufti said referring to accords binding governments. “Causing corruption on earth is one of the biggest crimes in Islam,” he explained.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz said respectable Muslim scholars all over the world have stated that such outrages bear no relation to Islam.

Among other remarks are those from the Organization for Islamic Conference (OIC), the Muslim World League (MWL), and others:

Also yesterday, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims. He sent a message to Prime Minister Tony Blair expressing his “utmost indignation and outrage” and condemning, “in the strongest terms, the horrendous acts.”

Muslim World League Secretary-General Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki also condemned the criminal attacks. “On behalf of Muslims and Islamic organizations it represents, the MWL condemns the repugnant act of crime that targeted innocent civilians,” Al-Turki said, adding that Islam has prohibited the killing of innocent people. He urged the United Nations to carry out a coordinated joint campaign to cleanse the world of terrorists.

Sheikh Abdul Mohsen Al-Obaikan, a senior Saudi scholar and a Shoura member, said there was no justification, whatsoever, for the killing of innocent people. Speaking to MBC television, he urged all members of the Muslim community in Britain to cooperate with British authorities in tracking down the criminals behind the attacks.

“Any Muslim having information leading to the perpetrators is urged to pass it on to the British authorities. By doing so, we not only help protect innocent Muslims from random arrests and charges but also save them from being labeled as terrorists,” the scholar said….