The brutal murder of a Japanese hostage and the gruesome killing of a Jordanian fighter pilot is not only a violation of international law but an act of barbarism condemned by Islam and Muslims all around the world.
The wars across the globe rage on unabated. The lamenting cries of the people go unanswered, all faiths in the world are unambiguous on the sanctity of human life and on the protection of all forms of creation.
Every act of war directed to the indiscrimate destruction of vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation.
It was Edward Gibon who in 1794 said: “So long as mankind continues to lavish more praise upon its destroyers than upon its benefactors war shall remain the chief pursuit of ambitious minds.”
Even the concept of holy war is denounced in Islam because in Islam war can only be characterised as either just, or unjust, not holy. The Qur’an permits a just war, if it is waged to remove tyranny and oppression. The Qur’an is categorical in denouncing all wars of aggression.
War crimes are being committed in Syria. A most authoritative capsule statement of war crimes under international law is found in the charter of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg FN7 and by a unanimous resolution of the United Nations General Assembly.
War crimes (are) a violation of the laws or customer of war (which) include, but (are) not limited to, murder, ill-treatment of prisoners of war, killing of hostages, plunder of or private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity. With this in mind, it is high time for the international community to intervene.
— The reader is a South African based in Johannesburg