Terrorism Contradicts Islam

Terrorism Contradicts Islam <br>Editorial: Grand Mufti Condemns terrorism - 2004-02-07. What you read here is the official view of the U.S. government. Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, stated on February 1 in a sermon in Mecca to 2 million pilgrims that terrorism contradicts Islam. He said: Islam prohibits all forms of injustice, senseless killing, treachery, hijacking of planes, boats, and other means of transportation. This condemnation comes as terrorists continue their suicide bombings in Iraq, Israel, and other areas. On February 1, two suicide bombers killed over 100 people in the city of Erbil in northern Iraq. And on January 29, a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 11 people on a bus in Jerusalem. In Iraq, terrorists operate in the shadows. However, it is believed that at least some of them are connected to Al-Qaeda terrorists, who were responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S. that killed about three thousand people. In Israel, terrorists operate more openly. Two groups claimed responsibility for the bus bombing in Jerusalem. They are the Islamic Resistance Movement, known as Hamas, and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. These groups also claimed joint responsibility for the bombing on January 14, carried out by a young mother of two children. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the self-proclaimed spiritual leader of Hamas, proudly spoke of using a female suicide bomber and threatened that more terrorist attacks against Israel are on the way. Hassan Fattah, an Iraqi journalist, says these groups that are responsible for the suicide bombings, despite their claim of acting in the name of Islam, have no connection with true Muslims. He states: 'This is certainly not the Islam that Muslims know. And I must say that there is really no discussion or dialogue on this issue in the Islamic world.' President George Bush says such terrorists deeply hate the values of the civilized world. According to him, they hate Christians, Jews, and any Muslim who does not align with their narrow-minded and violent views. No one can remain neutral in the face of such hatred. President Bush says: Everyone must condemn terrorism and take action against the few who are destroying many hopes.