Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency in South Asia

Appendix

159 RELIGIOUS FIGURES, INSURGENCY, AND JIHAD u JOHNSON APPENDIX: TEXT OF ULEMA SHURA DECLARATION, KABUL, MARCH 19, 200997 The National Council of Ulema in its regular session held from March 15–19, 2009, participated in by religious scholars from across Afghanistan passed the following Resolution after a thorough discussion of the current situation: • The Council denounces any action that further aggravates the pains and the sufferings of the people and funnels disunity among the people of Afghanistan. Thus, the Council calls upon all those involved to prefer the national interests and Islamic values over their personal interests. • To ensure a full security as a key element in the country’s progress, the Council unanimously decided that the traditional Loy Jirga (Grand Assembly) be convened, where people from all circles including religious scholars, intellectuals, tribal leaders, Jihadi and political figures and representatives from both Houses of the Parliament, the Taliban and Hiz e Islami (Hekmatyar’s Islamic Party) and from the OIC and the United Nations are represented. • The Council finds as “reasonable” to obtain the agreement and endorsement of the neighboring countries and other relevant authorities on convening the Loy Jirga. We appreciate the interest already expressed by the new U.S. administration, Canada and France. For the anti-government forces to participate with confidence in the Loy Jirga, we suggest that their names be removed from the blacklist and that the United Nations guarantee their safety. • The Council unanimously decided that the lead role in negotiating with the Taliban be given to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the King of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. Saudi Arabia is where the Holy Kabbah is located and is where the great Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (PBUH) is laid; it is where Quran was revealed by Allah and where angels have moved in and out. We are proud of the holy land and therefore, call upon the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to kindly accept our request of helping relieve our pains. • The Council calls upon the Taliban to allow the closed madrassas and schools to reopen for the Muslim children of Afghanistan. Children are involved neither in war nor in politics. Let them learn to move out of obscurity into the light. Closing down schools is a grave hostility against the Muslim people of Afghanistan. It is against the Holy Quran order that has allowed education. We are hoping for a positive response as this is the voice of the Council of Ulema, Ministry of Education and the entire nation. • The Council calls upon all the Ulema (religious scholars) to remain vigilant as they have always been against malign intentions and actions by those who seek to take advantage of an opportunity. As several times reminded in the past, the Council once again urges the media to avoid preaching and airing prohibited and hypocrite anti-Islam programs and immoral scenes and movies. This is the duty of the government to urgently avoid if such programs are aired. With respect, Afghanistan National Council of Ulema 97 Obtained by the author from Conrad Jennings, who received this document from Kandahari religious elders in March 2009, Kandahar City. This page intentionally left blank. ...