It has been a bloody start to the year. There have been three attacks on civilians in Farah, Kunar and Wardak that have claimed at least ahundred lives. But in the midst of the mourning many people are demanding an end to the war.
It has been a bloody start to the year. There have been three attacks on civilians in Farah, Kunar and Wardak that have claimed at least ahundred lives. But in the midst of the mourning many people are demanding an end to the war.Demonstrators in Kabul have urged the ulema to issue a fatwa against war and violence. Organisers said they would not be scared into silence by the violence and blood shedding in the hopeful spring season. Ezatullah Joya, one of the organisers, said: “We request the Peace High Council, the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation), Islamic organisations to help the Muslim nation of Afghanistan.”
He urged the Taleban to stop the war, and “stop torturing the oppressed Afghan nation.”
The demonstration was organised by Afghanistan’s United Council.
In recent weeks pro-peace voices have been raised not only in Kabul but also in the north and east of the capital city. (See Killid Weekly, issue number 561.)
On April 8, religious scholars and civil society activists participated in a second ulema jirga, which among other issues challenged the Taleban’s claim that suicide attacks were allowed under Islam. The tactic has been regulated in their code of conduct, Layha.
Minister of Hajj and Religious AffairsMohammad Yousuf Niazi urged all Afghans to seek peace and strive for fundamental change.
The minister said it was wrong for religious leaders to remain silent. They were not expected to pick up guns and march to war, he said, but they could use all the means at their disposal to invite “both sides” to peace talks. The two sides here are the government and Taleban. Minister Niazi added that peace would be a reality unless all Afghan people join the effort.
High hopes
Last month in Istanbul, participants at a conference called ‘Islamic cooperation for a peaceful future in Afghanistan’ had called on religious institutions in Afghanistan, Pakistan and neighbouring countries to end the years of violence.
There are multiple strategies led by government and non-government groups for peace in Afghanistan. Gains made by the participation of Qatar, Pakistan, the US and Turkey hassparked optimism on the ground.
Moreover, President Hamid Karzai’s statement that there are elements in the Taleban who are ready to talk peace has received positive attention in the media. (See Killid Analysis on this page)
In view of the many suggestions for the way forward including the call to ulema to issue a fatwa, what should be the next effective step?
Religious authorities who participated in this month’s Kabul conference believe the public call that suicide attacks have no legitimacy under Islamic law by religious leaders would dampen the spirits of those who seek to justify the conflict in the name of religion.
Ebrahim Hasanzada, a participant, said the views of ulema influence new recruits in anti-government ranks. “The public airing of views held by religious leaders at least can create hesitancy in decisions of those who want to make Afghanistan insecure and unknowingly perpetrate war and insecurity in the country”.
Hasanzada says it would have been better still had the ulema been able to convince the government’s opponents to sit at the negotiating table, and give up armed conflict.
Professor Nematullah Najoomi, a member of theadvisory board for Islamic Cooperation believes it was important the ulema stated “assassination of innocent people” was illegal. “There is no doubt any more. It is clear than no one can kill under any pretext,” he said. A new chapter on a road that would lead Afghanistan to a stable peace has opened, he believes. Follow TKG on Twitter & Facebook
