There is a clear consensus that the Arab world has to take more definitive action against extremism in all its forms. The sudden success of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) in capturing territory in Iraq has created a new urgency but many in the region have been speaking out for some time, including the UAE and other governments, as well a growing body of Muslim scholars.
This is why it was important when Saudi Arabia’s 21-strong council of senior scholars, headed by Grand Mufti Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh, made a ruling this week that terrorism is a “heinous crime” under the Sharia, making clear that “terrorism is contrary to the purposes of the great religion of Islam, which is innocent of this deviant ideology. Terrorism is nothing more than corruption and criminality rejected by Islamic Sharia law and common sense”.
Such a clear statement is a powerful support to authorities across the region who are working to ensure that errant individuals who have gone to join Isil or other organisations can be found guilty of a crime in the laws of their home countries.
