News from Andrew White

I've been told off for breaking my resolution not to get het up re my intemperate description of the delightful Gaby Logan, who I actually consider a rather well-informed sports presenter and not a vacuous bimbo. I'm not sure current affairs is her forte, however.  So instead here's some good news from Andrew White after the Copenhagen summit.  


"Our meeting of Iraq's religious leaders has finished. The meeting was complex , difficult and very sucessful. below is the fatwa they issued with a long declaration that we will put on our website later. Below is the Fatwa:

Photo: Mark Kissipie

'In the name of God the Merciful

'Fatwa concerning the banning of the hostility against the religious groups that live together with Muslims

'God has said: “The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His books, and His messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His messengers." And they say: "We hear, and we obey: (We seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys."(Al-Baqara 285)

'Knowing about the words - and who is better than God? - and seeking comfort in the words of the Prophet PBUH: “Who Harms a Dhimmi is against him and he who I am against. Judgment day is also against him”. And seeking comfort in the covenant of Omar and its text: “In the name of God the Merciful, this is what God's Servant Omar the leader of the Muslims gave to Iliya family of security. He gave it to protect their souls and wealth and their churches and their crucifixes and that churches should neither be used as houses or be destroyed and nothing should be stolen from them or off their wealth and their crucifixes or any of their money, and they shouldn’t be hated because of their religion and shouldn’t be harmed.

'And Abu Ubayda Al-Jarrah also did so and Omar Bin Al-Aas in other periods in Islam. In this time when the Muslim nation is asleep certain people create strife between their sons of different religion. And acting in accordance with the words of God and in showing the right way for the Umma we totally ban the killing and displacement and the taking of the wealth of the other religious groups that live in the Islamic countries. In addition to this we call for fraternization and peace between the different religions. The message of Islam is peace and love and brotherhood. And all thanks is due to God.

 'Iraqi Olama & Intellectuals Group

The High Council for issuing fatwas'


I've added the italics, because it seems to me that's really good news. I know there's a gap between intention and action, but at least it's a beginning and a bench mark.