By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2005 – A leading group of U.S. Muslim legal scholars issued a religious ruling today condemning terrorism and extremism, underscoring the sharp contrast between Islam and the violent extremism demonstrated by terrorists who claim to operate in the name of Islam.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations announced the edict, issued by the Fiqh Council of North America and endorsed by 120 North American Muslim organizations, leaders and institutions, during a news conference at the National Press Club here.
The ruling, called a "fatwa," calls on Muslims to help fight militant violence and clarifies that "those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not martyrs."
"Islam strictly condemns extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives," the fatwa states. "There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism."
Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, called the ruling an important step in creating a united front among Muslims to help counter extremism.
"United, we can confront the terrorists and frustrate their goal of sparking an apocalyptic war between faiths and civilizations," he said in a statement read at the news conference. "The presence here today of American Muslim leaders indicates the willingness of our community to strengthen national security and to work with policymakers to gain victory over this international menace to humanity."
Defense leaders have long emphasized that the war on terror is a war against violent extremism, not Islam, but that peace-loving Muslims must help contain it.
"The struggle that is taking place within the Muslim religion is not going to be won by people outside that religion," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld noted during a June 4 speech to the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "It's going to be won by people inside that religion."
The best way to help stop extremism is to "change the environment where you don't have men and women wanting to join jihad," Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers said during a June 29 Pentagon town hall meeting.
"The best way that message can delivered is not by the United States of America, but by moderate Muslims around the world," the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman said.
