Influential Islamic Group Slams French 'Haste' in Mali
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
An Islamic group headed by influential cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi on Thursday criticized France's "haste" in launching an offensive against Islamists in Mali, warning of "dangerous consequences."
"Military intervention has dangerous consequences, whether in killing, destruction, displacement... and famine, which Mali is already suffering from," the Qatar-based International Union of Muslim Scholars said in a statement.
It criticized "France's haste in sparking war before having exhausted all means of a peaceful solution and national reconciliation".
French forces last week went into action in the vast country on the southern edge of the Sahara to help Malian troops contain hardline armed Islamist movements, who have occupied the north of Mali during the past 10 months.
The International Union of Muslim Scholars called in its statement for "dialogue and reconciliation as the only correct solution to resolve the problem in Mali," saying it is "ready to continue its efforts" to achieve this.
It also urged "the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and African countries to exert serious efforts to end the war and achieve a peaceful settlement."
Qaradawi, a controversial religious figure in the West, has millions of supporters, mainly from the Muslim Brotherhood.
In the statement, his union called for "reason and wisdom from armed groups" and urged them to "accept dialogue to reach a peaceful and just solution."
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem al-Thani on Tuesday insisted that force would not solve the problem in Mali and urged dialogue.
18 January 2013, 00:33
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This man makes sense and Islamic third world armed groups only pose a threat to the corruption around them.
18 January 2013, 22:08
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Where was OIC and IUMS when shrines, masjids,libraries and the resting places of Muslim saints were destroyed by hooligans? Where was OIC and IUMS when they were killing, maiming and beating the Muslims in the north? Where was OIC and the IUMS when the terrorist where plundering the homes and shops of the Muslims? Where was OIC when the terrorist where instilling fear in the people? How dare OIC,IUMS or any other organization call for negotiations,reason and wisdom, its been 9 months or more. Ansar Dine, one of the fanatic armed group occupying the North of Mali, is the one who decided, on January 3rd, to withdraw its offer of a cessation of hostilities.
