Note the affirmations that this ruling is in accord with Islamic law and is binding on Muslims. Now would be a good time for the Muslim groups that have condemned cartoon violence to condemn this fatwa also. “Court issues fatwa on cartoonists,” from AFP, with thanks to Twostellas:
AN Islamic court in India has issued a fatwa, or religious decree, condemning to death the 12 artists who drew the controversial images of the prophet Mohammed.
The decree was issued on behalf of the Idar-e-Sharia Darul Kaza Islamic court in northern Uttar Pradesh state by its religious head in the state capital, Lucknow.
“Death is the only penalty for the cartoonists who had drawn sacrilegious cartoons of the prophet,” Maulana Mufti Abul Irfan, the religious head of the court, said overnight.
The court’s ruling is binding on Muslims, but can be challenged under Indian law.
Mr Irfan said it was clearly written in the Muslim holy book, the Koran, that anyone who insulted the prophet deserved to be punished.
He said the fatwa was applicable wherever Muslims live.
Jaffaryab Zilany, a member of the authoritative national body of Muslim clerics, the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, said however that although the fatwa was legitimate under Islamic law, it had no legal binding in India.