Senators hail scholars’ fatwa on war as a bold step

The lawmakers also denounced Monday’s suicide attack on the religious scholars an act against Islamic teachings and humanity.
More than 2,000 Afghan clerics on Monday highlighted their stance on the ongoing conflict in the country and called it against the Shariah.
A source in the Afghanistan Ulema Council told Pajhwok Afghan News the fatwa was issued by religious scholars during their meeting under the Loya Jirga tent in the capital.
Participants of the gathering were target by a suicide bomber as they prepared to leave the Loya Jirga tent. Seven people were killed and 20 others injured in the blast.
Abdullah Qarleq, a lawmaker from Kunduz province, said targeting ulema and elders who participated in the Monday meeting showed the weakness and depravity of terrorist groups.
“They have no place in the public. Jews and Christians didn’t order us to organise the ulma conference. But the militants were directed by their masters to conduct the blast,” he remarked.
Qarleq slammed the bombing as an attack on Islam and asked the government to encourage religious scholars and take steps for their security.
Amina Afzali, another lawmaker, said: “Issuing the fatwa was a courageous step that happened after years of wait and hope. It will help restore peace and stability to the county,” she hoped.
Her colleague Mohammad Hanif Hanifi said the people of Afghanistan had waited long for the fatwa -- an unprecedented step toward denouncing the ongoing conflict.
Deputy Chairman of Senate Mohammad Asif Sediqui also [raised the edict and asked the government to encourage the scholars to speak up against terrorism and extremism.
He urged the people to rise against an enemy who recognised no principle and acted only to please their foreign masters.