All Pakistan Ulema Council: Difference between revisions

The '''All Pakistan Ulema Council''' is an organization in Pakistan founded with the intention of reducing sectarian and interfaith violence among Muslims. Its members include [[Portal: Traditional Islamic Scholars|Islamic clerics]] and legal scholars from a range of Islamic traditions. It is currently led by Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi.<ref name="TGuAug272012">Saeed Shah - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/27/pakistani-muslim-christian-girl-blasphemy|2=2013-03-07}} Pakistani Muslim leaders support Christian girl accused of blasphemy] - The Guardian, August 27, 2012</ref>  

In August 2012, the Council joined the Pakistan Interfaith League, which includes Christians, Sikhs and other religions, to denounce the misuse of Pakistan's [[blasphemy]] law. The unprecedented move came after a young Christian girl with Down's syndrome was charged with desecrating the [[Qur'an]] and held in prison.<ref name="TGuAug272012"></ref>

The council also issued [[Fatwa|fatwas]] prohibiting honor killings<ref>Baba Umar (1 June 2014). "Pakistan clerics issue stoning death decree". ''Aljazeera News Organisation website''. Retrieved 15 October 2019.</ref>, [[takfeer]] (the act of declaring someone a non-Muslim)<ref>No Islamic sect to be declared 'kaafir': Ulema Council Dunya TV News website, Published 5 June 2014, Retrieved 15 October 2019</ref>, and joining ISIS.<ref>"Pakistan ulema council condemns IS militants". ''Dawn (newspaper)''. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 15 October 2019.</ref> The first of these three prohibitions is significant, given polling that indicates substantial support for honor violence in Pakistani society.<ref><nowiki>https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/05/30/four-in-ten-pakistanis-say-honor-killing-of-women-can-be-at-least-sometimes-justified/</nowiki></ref>

==Views on suicide attacks==

In March 2013, Ashrafi appeared to suggest that [[Suicide Bombing in Islam|suicide attacks]] were permitted in Afghanistan so long as US forces remained in the country: "Palestine is occupied by Israel, Kashmir by India, and Afghanistan by the US. So if the Muslims don't have the atomic bomb, they should sacrifice their lives for God."<ref>Abdul Haq Omari - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.tolonews.com/en/afghanistan/9627-pakistan-ulema-permits-suicide-attacks|2=2013-03-05}} Pakistan Ulema Permits Suicide Attacks] - TOLOnews, March 2, 2013</ref> This sentiment reflects other statements from the Taliban that have likened suicide bombers to "the atomic weapons of Muslims."<ref>Lisa Lundquist - [{{Reference archive|1=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/03/for_some_time_lwj_ha.php|2=2013-04-03}} Pakistani clerics endorse suicide bombings, reject proposed peace conference] - The Long War Journal, March 2, 2013</ref> Ashrafi later said that he was quoted out of context and had “never supported suicide attacks that cause ''civilian casualties'' in Afghanistan,” explaining that the [[Taliban]]’s supreme leader Mullah Omar had also banned such bombings.<ref>[{{Reference archive|1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.afghanistantimes.af%2Fnews_details.php%3Fid%3D2817%26%26cid%3D1|2=2013-04-03}} <!-- http://www.afghanistantimes.af/news_details.php?id=2817&&cid=1 -->Ashrafi takes U-turn on Afghan suicide attacks] - Afghanistan Times, March 3, 2013</ref>

*[[Portal: Traditional Islamic Scholars|Traditional Islamic Scholars]]