The Qur'an forbids killing without justice

If Al-Zarqawi's version is seen by the west as the basis for killing/beheading, then great injustice will be done to Islam. But Qur'an says "...Take not life which Allah hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: Thus doth He command you, that you may learn wisdom". (Sura Maida). This is exactly the position of all the democratic countries where capital punishment exists. The capital punishment must pass through the highest court of justice. Qur'an also says ".... if anyone slew a person -- unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief in the land -- it will be as if he slew the whole people." (Sura Maida).. These are all Almighty God's words revealed through Qur'an and these must have been revealed even earlier through Moses in Torah and Jesus Christ in Ingeel (original Gospel). So it is unfortunate that the radicals quote certain things either out of context or probably from controversial hadiths just to justify their brutal killings including suicide bombings.

Jihad
The word Jihad shakes everybody because of the way this is being used by some of the fighters. They use the name of Islam/ Allah so that they can convince many who do not have correct idea about Islam. Jihad is an Arabic word and its correct meaning and application must be understood properly. For example, if a chain-smoker firmly decides to give up smoking, this is Jihad for him against the bad habit.. So fighting against anything bad for any one or for the society/nation, could be called Jihad.

But Jihad has, as far as my very limited knowledge goes (if other learned people have other views I would like to educate myself on this), has applications on at least two major areas. There could be other areas too but those must be based on the provisions of the revealed Books (original). Firstly, if any one declares war against Almighty God i.e if any one prevents others from worshipping/praying to God and God alone -- this applies to all people of Faith, not specifically related to Islam -- then Jihad seems to be in order. Secondly, if any one is thrown out of his own home forcefully, he will certainly fight back and that should legitimately be seen as Jihad. This is why the people term it as Jihad when they fight against occupation.

Invasion of Iraq illegal
So far as Iraq is concerned President Bush's invasion of Iraq has been declared by the Secretary General of the UN as illegal -- against the international law. There has been no specific UN approval (Res.1441 did not authorise war -- it mentioned "serious consequences" which could mean total economic sanction, blockade etc) for invading Iraq. Similar views were expressed by Presidential candidate John Kerry too. The other day President Chirac of France said Iraq war was illegal. All the UNSC members except the USA and UK opposed Iraq invasion. There is no WMD (the latest report of the CIA Survey Group clearly said that there was no nuclear, biological or chemical weapons in Iraq before the invasion, indeed since 1991), no link with Al Qaeda or Al-Zarqawi, no link with 9/11, 2/3rd of Iraq remained under no-flying zone controlled by the US and some allies, 12 years of UN sanctions led to deaths of million children and men and women etc. Then what was the justification of Iraq invasion which indeed has made USA and rest of the world more unsafe?

But it seems that because Saddam could possibly be a "threat" to Israel, and certainly not to the USA or UK, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair went for the invasion. Thus the invasion and subsequent occupation and installation of a "puppet" government in Iraq and all other army atrocities including prison abuses are against the international law.

UN must define terrorism
As I mentioned in one of my last comments on the subject, here comes the role of the UNGA/UNSC which should clearly define the word terrorism (recent UNSC resolution on 'war on terror' is not enough). This would help many countries to differentiate occupation resistance groups and freedom or autonomy seekers from real terrorists. Once there is an agreement on the definition of terrorism, it will be easier for many countries to join the real war against all forms of terrorism. Some form of terrorism always existed all over the world and it is absolutely necessary for all countries to combat terrorism.

Root causes must be removed
But the root cause of the present form of world wide chaotic situation which is branded as "terrorism" -- eg. fight against occupation, for freedom and autonomy etc -- must be identified and serious negotiations must commence with the fighters with a view to finding an acceptable solution. There is no military solution to these conflicts -- absolutely not. The countries concerned rightly treat them as "enemies" but it is high time for all of them to negotiate with these enemies and come to an acceptable agreement. Negotiated settlements are always better than war which destroys human lives. This is the only way to make the world safer. Let the UN deal with them effectively. It is high time to reject the Israeli jargon of "no negotiation with terrorists". If two Iraqi women scientists held by America were released, two Americans and one Briton Ken Bigley held by Iraqi rebels could be saved and freed. There was reportedly a decision earlier to release Iraqi nuclear women scientists (no WMD found -- why hold them at all?), but because the hostage takers demanded, it was not done and in the process three precious lives were destroyed. Now how the blame is to be apportioned?

'Not all Muslims are terrorists'
A Saudi columnist A Rahman Al-Rasheed said (Time Sept 20) "Certainly, not all Muslims are terrorists. But with deep regret, we must admit that almost all terrorists are Muslims." No, this is not correct.

Timothy Mc Veigh who bombed Oklahoma government building about four years ago and killed dozens of Americans was not a Muslim. The massacre in terms of death in Waco, Texas some years ago was carried out by religious zealots who were not Muslims. The members of Basque separatists ETA in Spain, who have been responsible for killings of hundreds of innocent people are not Muslims. The two radical religious sects fighting a deadly battle in Northern Ireland for decades are not Muslims. The genocide in Bosnia was not done by Muslims. The genocide carried out in Sabra and Shatilla Palestinian camps under the sponsorship of Ariel Sharon was not the acts of Muslims.

Now the Muslims have been put in the forefront because their land and homes are under foreign occupation. The Muslims are entitled to fight the occupying forces but nobody can support some of their methods including suicide bombings, beheading of civilian. At the same time, people will condemn the occupation and the occupation forces' atrocities against the people of occupied land in the name of killing terrorists in their alleged hideouts.

Israeli atrocities in Gaza
The USA has again vetoed the resolution that called for halting the Israeli attacks and killing of men, women and children. In one week of military operation in Gaza, Israel has killed over 80 Palestinians which include at least 19 children. It is also madness of Hamas that it sends one or two Kassam rockets to Israel which generally do no harm to Israeli civilians except the last one which killed two Israeli kids and that led to the present disproportionate military operation. And against the killing of two Israeli kids which certainly deserves world condemnation, Israel killed 19 Palestinian kids. Only Almighty God knows when the extremist Hamas leadership and international terrorist Ariel Sharon and his associates would come to their senses.

Muslehuddin Ahmad is a former Secretary and Ambassador and Founder-VC of North South University. And recently he retired as the Founder-VC of Presidency University.