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Fatwa against extremism

PHOENIX: North American Muslims have issued a ``fatwa'' (religious edict), against extremism and terrorism, in order to prevent disgruntled Muslims who might be tempted to use their religion to justify violence. It has been signed by representatives of more than 250 mosques and Islamic Centres and endorsed by over 170 Muslim groups, leaders and institutions.

The American fatwa followed the one issued in March by the Islamic Commission of Spain, which declared Osama bin Laden an apostate and urged other Muslims to denounce the Al-Qaeda leader. The Spanish ruling marked the first time Muslim clerics had denounced terrorism in religious vocabulary, invoking Islamic instruments such as fatwa and apostary, instead of the qualified condemnation as in the past. The London attacks also prompted a number of U.S. Muslim organisations to issue a fatwa, denouncing the violence. — UNI

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