Islamabad: Terming suicide attacks and
violence in the name of religion as `haram`, Poland`s Grand
Mufti Tomasz Miskiewicz has offered to act as a mediator
between religious extremists and Pakistani authorities.
Miskiewicz, the head of Poland`s Muslim Religious
Union, who visited Pakistan this week, also said Muslims in
European countries were facing discrimination and find it
difficult to maintain their identity as the global media,
taking a cue from the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan,
was painting them as terrorists.
He declared suicide attacks and violence in the name
of religion as `haram` because suicide is forbidden in Islam
and killing innocent persons is considered a crime.
While offering to act as a mediator between extremists
and Pakistani authorities, he said dialogue is possible in a
conflict though the condition is "that all parties have to see
the need for dialogue as good for their side as well as for
the society".
Even extremists have a right to express their views
which need to be respected in order to make dialogue possible,
Miskiewicz told the media.
During his visit to Pakistan, he met madrassa students
and teachers and religious scholars.
Miskiewicz, who studied theology at the Islamic
University of Madina in Saudi Arabia, also met Pakistani
officials and delivered lectures at the International Islamic
University and Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad.
PTI
