ABC AUSTRALIA, 17/12/2003 12:37:23
Indonesian scholars forbid random terror attacks
Indonesia's leading Islamic authority has passed a religious decree against suicide
bombing and has also made a series of distinctions excluding acts of terror from any
definition of jihad.
Our Jakarta correspondent, Tim Palmer, says the stance has been taken by the
Indonesian council of Ulemas or religious teachers.
It ruled that suicide bombing was forbidden, falling outside any Koranic interpretation
of martyrdom for a good cause.
The council then issued a fatwa or religious decree against suicide attacks.
At the council meeting in Jakarta, significant time was spent discussing terror
attacks, before a further decree was issued, forbidding any destructive attacks that
were randomly targetted and caused fear and terror.
The Marriott Hotel bombing earlier this year and last year's Bali attacks were
discussed during the debate.
Suicide bombers are thought to have been involved in both of those attacks.
17/12/2003 12:37:23 | ABC Radio Australia News
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