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’Leaders to blame for international terrorism’
2006-12-23 08:49:54
By Pastroy Nguvu
The war against terrorism cannot be won if diplomats, political leaders and civil servants working in African countries do not perform their responsibilities, the Mufti of Zambia, Sheikh Assadullah Mwale has said.
Speaking exclusively to The Guardian in Dar es Salaam yesterday Sheikh Mwale said diplomats, political leaders and civil servants are the ones who allow terrorists to operate in different countries.
The Zambian Mufti was assessing the role of Islam and Muslims in the on-going war on terrorism.
”I have visited many places in Africa and Asia.
What I have realized is that the main basis of terrorism is the diplomats who are not very smart in issuing visas, political leaders who receive bribery from rich countries and convince the poor to join terrorist groups and civil servants particularly immigration officials who issue passports without doing thorough investigations,” he said.
He said Muslims are not the source of terrorism and people should make a distinction between the Holy War (jihad) and terrorism as the two are not the same.
He said that any individual can be a terrorist without considering his religion.
The Mufti blamed the US foreign policy as the one fostering terrorism in the world.
According to Sheikh Mwale many international meetings that look for solutions on terrorism do not involve Muslims.
”Despite the fact that Muslims are blamed as the source of terrorism when there are conferences on the matter the Muslims are not invited. There is need to involve Muslims in the fight against terrorism in order to win the war,” he said
Sheikh Mwale is in the country for a four-week visit to learn about Bakwata activities in education in order to share experiences.
The tour also aims to promote relationships between the Muslims of Zambia and their fellow Tanzanians.
He is accompanied by the President of the Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia Rashid Phiri.
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