KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — The government will discuss with the National Fatwa Council on whether to issue a fatwa (edict) on the involvement of Muslims in militant activities.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, however, said that before the edict could be issued, an in-depth study should be done on the suitability of issuing such an edict.
“We will see... we will discuss the matter first with the National Fatwa Council whether it is apt to issue such a fatwa,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.
So far, there has been no official edict issued by the council on Malaysian Muslims’ involvement in militant activities.
Last month, Kelantan Mufti Datuk Mohamad Shukri Mohamad was quoted as saying that the term jihad was not suitable to be used in the context of what was happening in Syria as the armed conflict there was between Muslims and it was unfair to declare the side being opposed as non-Muslims.
Police recently arrested 19 Malaysians believed to be involved with militant groups in certain foreign countries.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar also reportedly said that police were still tracking down five individuals for alleged involvement in militant activities abroad.
They are Universiti Malaya (UM) Faculty of Islamic Studies lecturer, Dr Mahmud Ahmad, 35, owner of a photostat and stationery shop at UM, Mohd Najib Husen, 36, Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee, 39, and two others from Tawau, Sabah, Mohd Amin Baco and Jeknal Adil, both 30.
Jamil Khir said the government would also investigate claims that the Malaysian militants detected had links with a certain tabligh group in the country. — Bernama
