‘World should seize opportunity provided by Leader’s fatwa on nuclear weapons’

29 April 2012, Mehr News Agency http://www.mehrnews.com (Iran)

By Javad Heirannia

Tehran (MNA) -- Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a fatwa (religious edict) declaring the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons are all haram (prohibited in Islam).

Sujata Ashwarya Cheema, an assistant professor of political science at the National Islamic University (Jamia Millia Islamia) in New Delhi, says the fatwa has “introduced moral and religious aspects into nuclear restraint, which should be welcome by anyone who believes in responsible use of nuclear power.”

In an interview with the Mehr News Agency, Cheema said the international community “needs to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the ayatollah’s words.”

Following is the text of the interview:

Q: What led to the success of the talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany (the P5+1 group) in Istanbul on April 14? What is your evaluation of the negotiations?

A: The Istanbul talks were successful in the sense that they ended on a positive note, although no agreement was reached or promises made. The fact that discussions were held in an atmosphere of cordiality was an achievement, especially in the context of the unending drumbeat of war on Iran from several quarters. The principle adopted by the P5+1 for negotiations was “step-by step approach and reciprocity,” which went down well with the Iranians. It underscored the need to address all crucial issues concerning Iran’s nuclear program through dialogue and mutuality as opposed to threat and coercion. Baroness Catherine Ashton’s assertion that Iran has the right to a peaceful nuclear program, and that the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty must be a “key basis” for future talks, was clearly a dealmaker, and went quite a distance in restoring the confidence of the Iranian side.

Q: Iran has said “the next talks should be based on confidence-building measures, which would build the confidence of Iranians.” How can this be achieved?

A: The first step should be to take the threat of war off the table. Constant talk of a military action, if talks fail, generates unnecessary pressure and hardens the position, although a time frame for reaching an agreement needs to be put in place. Both sides need to put aside their longstanding complaints against each other and focus instead on pointed issues such as enrichment, the Fordow nuclear site, and (providing) full access to IAEA inspectors. The issue of enrichment is a major sticking point that requires wise and judicious negotiations by the P5+1 rather than dictation based on preconceived notions. The catchphrase here is to go “slow and steady”, building mutual trust and respect, that are key ingredients to a successful diplomatic negotiation.

Q: Iran’s Supreme Leader has issued a fatwa declaring the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons are all haram. Can this help resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear issue?

A: Ayatollah Khamenei’s declaration is both topical and timely. It has introduced moral and religious aspects into nuclear restraint, which should be welcome by anyone who believes in responsible use of nuclear power. The international community, represented by the P5+1, needs to take advantage of the opportunity provided by the ayatollah’s words. In effect, it would be a good idea to hold the Iranian leaders to them. If nuclear weapons are un-Islamic, why not come clean on the issue? The Supreme Leader’s statement needs to be publicly endorsed by the international community. This would give the Iranian negotiating team the necessary political shield to accept a tough agreement.

Sujata Ashwarya Cheema is an assistant professor at the Centre for West Asian Studies of Jamia Millia Islamia. She is the author of Civil Society: Democracy and State in West Asia.

Scholars of the Levant Conference Calls for Confronting Zionist Practices to Judaize Jerusalem, Expresses Support to Syria

11 April 2012, Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) الوكالة العربية السورية للأنباء

DAMASCUS, (SANA) – The Scholars of the Levant Conference to Support al-Quds on Tuseday called upon the Arab and Islamic figures to confront the serious Zionist practices to judaize Jerusalem and destroy al-Aqsa Mosque, calling upon Arab and Islamic media to expose these practices.

Concluding the activities of the conference, the participants stressed that the Arab and international silence towards what is taking place in Jerusalem is a participation in this crime.

The participants underscored rejection of terrorism and the need for differentiation between it and the legitimate resistance, calling for exposing the Zionist crimes against the Palestinian people.

They called upon the scholars in the Arab and Islamic nations to revive the culture of resistance among their people in order to defend rights and the holy sacred places, in addition to devoting religious discourse to support resistance in Palestine, South of Lebanon and the occupied Syrian Golan.

The final statement stressed the importance of unity and rejection of sedition, warning against the instigative calls of some satellite channels that stoke sectarian sedition to fragment the united nation and calling upon these channels to be realistic and credible serving joint issues in the interest of all sides.

The participants stressed the right of the Palestinian people to resist occupation, adding that supporting the resistance in Palestine is a legitimate and humanitarian duty.
They called on the people of the Arab and Islamic nations to be united regardless of their racial and sectarian affiliations to face attempts of spreading sedition and fragmenting the nation.

The participants expressed support to Syria's national line and efforts to preserve its territorial unity against all conspiracies which aim at undermining its security and stability.

They condemned instigative fatwas by some Muslim scholars in the Arab countries which violate the principles of Islam, adding that it was better for those scholars stress stopping the bloodshed and getting out of the crisis.

The participants denounced the terrorist sabotage acts in Syria which violates human ethics and all religions, adding that these acts will enhance the people's determination to overcome the crisis.

They rejected extremism and systemized terrorism in Syria such as operation carried out by al-Qaeda members and Takfiri groups serving interests that are hostile to Islam and Muslims.

The participants also hailed the courageous and resistant stances of Syria's people and government under the leadership of President al-Assad in support of the Palestinian cause to end the occupation and establish a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Earlier, under the patronage of President Bashar al-Assad, activities of the Scholars of Levant conference to Support al-Quds (Jerusalem) started at al-Assad Library in Damascus.

The Conference is held by the Ministry of Awqaf (Religious Endowment) with the participation of scholars from Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria.

The first session of the conference started with announcing the formation of the Scholars of Levant Union and electing Dr. Mohammad Said Ramadan al-Bouti as its president.

Abbas al-Mosawi from Lebanon and Sheikh Tayssir al-Tamimi from Palestine who didn’t attend because of the practices of the Israeli occupation were elected as deputies.
The union included 60 members from Syria, 20 members from Lebanon, ten Palestinian scholars and five Jordanian scholars.

The first session is entitled 'al-Quds and al-Aqsa Mosque', it will discuss issues related to al-Quds, the role of the Islamic nation's scholars in supporting al-Quds, Syria's resistant role in defending al-Quds and the occupied Arab territories, judaization of al-Quds and the Israeli violations of al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy sites.

The second session, under the title 'The Role of Levant Scholars in this Stage', discusses the conspiracy against Syria and the dangers of extremism and provocative fatwas (Rulings made by Muftis) on the Islamic nation in addition to the role of scholars in facing the conspiracy against Syria.

Al-Bouti: Liberating al-Quds is a Holy Duty
Dr. Mohammad Said Ramadan al-Bouti on Tuesday said that liberating al-Quds (Jerusalem) is a sacred duty, adding that occupation can never transfer lands' property regardless of its duration.

In a speech during the Scholar of the Levant Conference to support al-Quds, al-Bouti added that "Every Muslim, Arab or Foreigner, and Every Arab person, Muslim or Christian, should sacrifice his life for al-Quds".

Al-Bouti highlighted that the Islamic State liberated al-Quds from the Romans, who occupied al-Quds for several centuries, and restored it to its rightful people of Muslims, Christians and Jews.

Minister of Awqaf (Religious Endowments) Mohammad Abdul-Sattar al-Sayyed said that Jerusalem had been a target along the ages for invaders and that was the main reason for unifying the Arabs when Salah al Din al Ayyubi librated it from foreigners.

" Let us make Jerusalem the direct reason for re-unifying the Arabs as we all agree on librating it," pointing out to the sublime rank of al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem where the Israeli occupation is practicing ethnic cleansing against its people from Muslems and Christens.

He said that the Arabs are eager to pray in al-Aqsa Mosque and Church of the Resurrection, warning that the Israeli and the Zionist-backed media outlets are not saving any efforts to distract the Arabs from their central issue and are working in sowing sedition among them.

For his part, His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III Laham, Patriarch of Antioch, All the East, Alexandria and Jerusalem for the Melkite Greek Catholic said that the resurrection of Messiah is the celebration of Jerusalem and the title of the Conference is to champion Jerusalem.

He said that every human consider themselves from Jerusalem because it’s the city of all religions and it means in Christianity ' redemption and salvation', stressing that it is key for peace in the region.

Laham called the world, the Christians in particular, to campaign for supporting Jerusalem and its unique natur as a convergence for all religions.

For his part, Grand Mufti of the Republic, Dr. Ahmad Badr Eddin Hassoun, asserted that the blood of the Syrian youths who were assassinated by armed terrorist groups was supposed to be spilled in al-Quds, but the terrorists spilled it in Syria.
The Mufti condemned the Arab states' collation against Syria, adding that those states are providing money and weapons to destroy Syria.

He stressed that the Arab League is now working to weaken the unity of the Arab world which is the basis for resolving the Palestinian Cause and defending the holy places in Jerusalem.

The participants stressed Syria's role in supporting the Palestinian Cause which was reflected in the Syrian people's standing by the Palestinians and Syria's firm stance and rejection of giving up the rights of the Palestinians in restoring their lands.

The participants called upon the people of the Islamic countries and the free people to defend justice and call on the international organizations to shoulder their responsibilities in protecting the rights of the Palestinians and the sacred sites in Palestine from the Zionist crimes to desecrate the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque.

They also stressed that the scholars of the Levant should unify efforts to reunite the Arab Nation and mobilize its resources to support Jerusalem.

The participants added that the Zionism has created fictitious enemies for Arabs with the aim of drawing their attention from their real enemy which is Israel and those who support it.

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