This is from the Australian Broadcasting system. bin Laden has again denied
any involvement in the attacks. As I understand it, Islam forbids both
suicide and killing the innocent. However, some authorities claim that
suicide by warriors in a jihad is an exception. I am not sure how direct
killing of innocent persons is justified but I heard a Taliban spokesperson
assert that no distinction was made between people in uniform and those not
in uniform. This suggests that they take the position that no one is
innocent. Of course other faiths equally condemn killing innocent people but
manage to condone killing the innocent. The military doctrine of collateral
damage and some Catholic clerics use of the rule of double effect are
examples of this. There have also been utilitarian justifications of the
same sort that is used to justify shoothing down civil airlliners when they
dont obey orders to change course.
Cheers, Ken Hanly
Holy war
Taliban militia leader Omar has summoned senior religious scholars to Kabul
to discuss a jihad, or holy war, against the United States.
Omar says the ulema, or senior scholars, will be called on to issue a fatwa,
or learned opinion, possibly calling for holy war in the event of a US
attack.
"The outstanding ulamas of Afghanistan should come to Kabul to take a Sharia
decision about a possible US attack on the sacred and Islamic land of
Afghanistan," Omar said.
"The proud nation of Afghanistan will then defend the Islamic country in the
light of their Sharia fatwa."
Culture and Information Minister Qudratullah Jamal says jihad is inevitable
if the the United States attacks Afghanistan in retaliation for last week's
devastating terrorist atrocities in New York and Washington.
The Taliban is harbouring the prime suspect in the attack, Saudi-born
dissident Osama bin Laden.
"It is very clear, if they attack the only alternative for us will be
jihad," Mr Jamal said.
"The Islamic Emirate was founded on the fatwa of ulemas and now again ulemas
will gather to make a decision."
