Malaysian clerics support jihad in Afghanistan
Sunday December 2, 7:36 PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (AFP) - A Malaysian association of Islamic clerics on Sunday condemned the US bombing of Afghanistan, calling it an act of aggression against Islam and urging Muslims to wage a holy war.

Abdul Ghani Samsudin, head of the Ulema Association of Malaysia, said waging a jihad or holy war was one of the requirements of Islam to defend Afghanistan or Muslims worldwide.

"Jihad in the form of sacrificing one's life or material is required of all Muslims," he was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

A 16-point resolution issued after a one-day meeting urged Muslims to boycott US products and services and demanded an immediate withdrawal of US and British troops from Afghanistan.

Abdul Ghani said a search for an end to terrorism must first resolve the causes of violence.

The clerics urged Muslim-majority Malaysia against assisting the United States in its military campaign in Afghanistan and said the authorities should not prevent demonstrations opposing to the US bombings.

They called on the Organisation of Islamic Conference and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to condemn the US attacks and to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people.

The clerics expressed sorrow to the families of the September 11 terror attacks in the United States and to the Afghan victims of US retaliation.

The government of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has condemned the September 11 terror attacks on the United States, but has protested against the retaliatory military campaign in Afghanistan.