Friday, January 21, 2005
Haj faithful urged to reject terrorism
Appeals for Muslims to disavow terrorism and condemn the use of Islam to justify violence were heard across Mecca yesterday as two million pilgrims reached the climax of the annual Haj pilgrimage.
As the faithful prepared to end the festival with the stoning of the devil, a ritual which has cost hundreds of lives during past stampedes, the state-appointed preacher at the Grand Mosque spoke of the "putrid" phenomenon of using the Koran to justify terrorist attacks.
Militants were using "misguided and void" interpretations to justify their acts, said Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Sudeis. "Because Muslims have strayed from moderation, we are now suffering from this dangerous phenomenon of branding people infidels and inciting Muslims to rise against their leaders to cause instability.
"The reason for this is the delinquent and void interpretation of Islam based on ignorance. Faith does not mean killing Muslims or non-Muslims who live among us, nor does it mean shedding blood, terrorising or sending body parts flying."
King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah issued a message to mark the climax of the religious calendar calling on Muslims to embark "on a course that disavows terrorism, which spreads mayhem and seeks destruction and was forbidden by Islam".
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