New Fatwa Centre to serve as reference point for the public

Dubai: Religious decrees will now be regulated by the official Fatwa (religious decree) Centre which falls under the federal General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Awqaf, the security information office at the ministry of interior announced on Thursday.

The centre will serve as a reference point for those enquiring about Islamic decrees and interpretation by offering phone services in Arabic, Urdu and English.

Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, inaugurated the centre , saying it would promote virtue in the community.

He said: "Preachers and muftis are of the highest qualifications and posses the highest level of knowledge and discretion. These traits make them capable of being an official authority to issue fatwas, preach and guide to further cement social bonds and relations among people and embody the sublime values of justice, equality and rightness".

Dr Hamdan Musallam Al Mazroui, director of the authority, said the new centre was part of a move to develop methods of issuing fatwas, regulate them, and curb extremist fatwas.

A phone service (8002422), which is already operational, received 24,000 calls in July alone on the eight lines it serves.