Cleric warns of jihad against government

Islamabad: Chief cleric of Islamabad's Red Mosque Abdul Aziz has warned that he would declare a jihad if the government launched an operation against the mosque and its Jamia Hafsa seminary.

He asked his followers to be ready for jihad as well as suicide attacks, in his Friday sermon at the mosque.

The cleric said his students would sacrifice their lives and would not compromise on vulgarity and un-Islamic culture.

Abdul Aziz, whose address was reported by national dailies, said that massage centres and dancing and singing functions and shaking hands with women were un-Islamic.

"We will offer strong resistance in case of the government operation, and will never allow the 'enlightened Islam' being preached by the rulers to flourish," he threatened.

"We are ready to sacrifice our lives for enforcement of Islamic law in the country," he said, adding, "We will continue the jihad against vulgarity and un- Islamic culture and warn the government to remove forces from around the mosque, otherwise the situation would worsen."

He said the seminary students themselves wanted the security forces to launch an operation against them, as it would provide them with a chance to sacrifice their lives for Islam.

'Desperate for sacrifice'

"Our students are desperate to sacrifice their lives. It is the duty of the state to ensure Islamic laws in the country, but they are inclined towards western culture," Abdul Aziz claimed.

"The government says that by kidnapping Chinese, we have committed a sin. In fact, these Chinese were promoting sex in the federal capital. We have done a great service to the residents of Islamabad by putting an end to one of many brothels operating here," the militant cleric said.

He told the audience that the administration of Lal Masjid has established a special centre in Jamia Hafsa to keep an eye on all the massage centres and brothels in the country.

"Only anti-Islam forces and the non-governmental organisations were against the Jamia Hafsa. A vicious propaganda has been unleashed against us through various means but it is destined for failure as we are on the right path," he added.

"Shaking hands with women [for men] is not allowed in Islam and all the massage centres, dance and music parties were anti-Islam activities," he said.

Separately, commenting on President General Musharraf's statement that suicide bombers were holed up inside the mosque, Aziz's brother and deputy Abdul Rasheed Ghazi warned of "forceful retaliation" against any government operation.

He said Musharraf had alleged that Jaish-e-Mohammad militants were inside the mosque and the president would soon say that Osama Bin Laden was also hiding there.