[Guardian]

From the CBC:

Iraq’s top Shia cleric sent a message Wednesday to Muslims in Western nations, urging them to obey the laws of the countries in which they live.

The fatwa, a non-binding directive, was delivered at a Montreal news conference of prominent Shia Muslims on behalf of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

"Muslims have undertaken to obey the laws of the country of their residence and thus they must be faithful to that undertaking," the statement read.

It condemned all acts of violence and encouraged imams to keep a watchful eye on what’s going on inside their mosques.

A fatwa is a legal opinion or ruling issued by an Islamic scholar.

Muslims are not bound to obey it, but many will if they are comfortable with its content, said freelance journalist Zuhair Kashmeri.

The fatwa was drafted in response to the arrests earlier this month of 17 people connected to a bomb plot investigation in southern Ontario. Police allege some of the suspects were inspired by al-Qaeda and its attacks on Western targets.

http://www.judeoscop...3?id_breve=1759

[Guardian]

Shiite leader issues fatwa barring violence against innocent Canadians
By Beth Duff-Brown
ASSOCIATED PRESS
TORONTO - A Muslim leader said Wednesday that Iraq's top Shiite cleric has called on his Canadian followers to abide by religious edicts barring them from acts of violence against innocent people.

The announcement by Imam Nabil Abbas reflects efforts by the country's mostly moderate Muslims to stave off a backlash in the wake of the June 2 arrest of 17 Muslims on terrorism charges.

Abbas told reporters in Montreal that he had asked for guidance from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani -- one of the world's most influential Shiite clerics -- and received the edict, or fatwa, Tuesday night.

"Any Muslim man or woman must act in the best interests of his or her country of residence by protecting it from all acts that might put this country in jeopardy," Abbas said, reading from what he said was the fatwa. Abbas is a Canadian representative for al-Sistani.

It was not immediately clear what impact the edict would have on Canada's 750,000-strong Muslim community, of which roughly 40 percent is Shiite.

But the move reflects fears by Canadian Muslims that the arrest of the 12 men and five teenagers would cast a new and unwelcome spotlight on a community that has prided itself on a largely successful integration into Canadian society.

The 17 are accused in a homegrown plot to launch terrorist attacks on targets in southern Ontario.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police alleges that the group had obtained three tons of ammonium nitrate and were plotting to set off bombs at buildings. The bail hearings of the men, whose lawyers say they are innocent, are spread out over the next several weeks.

Tam Hariri of the Lebanese Islamic Center in Montreal, where the news conference was held, said confirmation of the fatwa was received by e-mail from Imam Murtadha al-Kashmiri. He said al-Kashmiri was the ayatollah's North American representative.

Al-Kashmiri stressed that the fatwa was not specific to Canada, but that al-Sistani was reiterating that Canadian Muslims must follow his prior fatwas which deem violence against innocent people a sin.

[Guardian]

Pictures from the Press Conference held in Canada regarding this matter:

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[Umm Jibraeil]

Quote

Muslims are not bound to obey it, but many will if they are comfortable with its content, said freelance journalist Zuhair Kashmeri.

I thought Fatwas we not optional? We must obey them, right?

[Guardian]

Umm Jibraeil, on Jun 23 2006, 08:53 PM, said:

Quote

Muslims are not bound to obey it, but many will if they are comfortable with its content, said freelance journalist Zuhair Kashmeri.

I thought Fatwas we not optional? We must obey them, right?

Yes, if you perform taqlid of Ayatollah Sistani his fatwas are not optional.