Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Muslims Obliged

CAIRO, Egypt--Muslims around the world should defend Iran against any possible US attack, prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi has said.
In an interview with the Radio IslamOnline transmitted on Sunday, Qaradawi stressed that all Muslims have the duty of launching jihad (holy war) against any enemy attacking a Muslim country
It is obligatory on all Muslims to resist any possible attack the US might launch against Iran. Iran is a Muslim country which all Muslims should defend while the US is an enemy of Islam that has already declared war on Islam under the disguise of war on terrorism and provides Israel with unlimited support,“ he was quoted as saying.
Commenting on Iran’s nuclear program, he said that Tehran has the right to have nuclear energy.

“Why should Iran or any other Muslim or African country be banned from having nuclear energy while Israel and the US itself already have nuclear bombs?“
To a question on the Israeli-US propaganda over fears of Iran’s Arab neighbors about its nuclear program, he urged Tehran and regional states to reach accords among themselves to dispel any suspicions. “There is no need for any foreign party to intrude and claim it provides them with protection,“ he said.

Asked about a fatwa issued by the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia which warned Muslim men against being involved in conflicts outside their countries like the ongoing war in Iraq without getting permission from the rulers of their countries, the scholar said that this fatwa does not apply to the situation in countries like Iraq, Palestine and possibly Iran if it is attacked by the US.

“When a Muslim country is invaded by some other country, all Muslims who are capable of doing jihad should spare no efforts in defending the invaded country,“ he said.
Qaradawi declared that it is not true that Muslims should not go outside their countries to defend their fellow Muslims unless they get permission from the ruler of their country.

“Why did governments of Muslim countries allow their young people to go to Afghanistan to defend it against the former Soviet Union? Was it just because they got a green light from the US to do so?“ he asked.


No comments: