Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi, Pakistani Imam: Denounced Suicide Attacks, Killed

The first three paragraphs of a CNN article tell most of the story:

"A moderate Muslim cleric who denounced suicide attacks as forbidden by Islam was killed Friday in a suicide attack on his mosque in Lahore, authorities said.

"Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi was the first imam in Pakistan to issue a fatwa, or religious edict, against suicide attacks in Pakistan.

"On Friday, a suicide bomber approached Naeemi as he left the Jamia Naimia Mosque and religious school. The bomber detonated his explosives, killing Naeemi and four others, police said. Another 10 people were wounded in the attack...." (CNN)

I am grateful to Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi, for the having the courage to issue that fatwa. I don't know how much effect it will have, particularly now that he's dead.

But, at the least, I think this shows that Al Qaeda and the Taliban are not necessarily typical of Islam, any more that Timothy McVeigh was typical of Americans, or the KKK of the sixties was typical of Christianity.

Every group has its crazies. And, perhaps what happened to Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi gives some insight into why imams tend to keep a low profile, if they aren't the sort who preach hate against 'those people over there.'

I hope that the wisdom and courage of Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi spreads.

Related posts:

• "Using a Kid to Bomb a Mosque: Non-Western Cultural Values, Just Plain Evil, or Something Else?"
  (June 12, 2009)
• "Blowing Up Pakistan Mosque: Not the Best Idea for Taliban"
  (June 8, 2009)
• " 'Islamic Mercy:' Roxana Saberi Free, Returning to Fargo, North Dakota"
  (May 11, 2009)
• "Another Minnesotan Dies in Somalia: Not Your Stereotype African"
  (June 7, 2009)
• "Right-Wing Extremists Really Are Terrorists, Sometimes"
  (June 6, 2009)
• "U. S. Bombed Mosque: Iran Official - 'When in Doubt, Blame the Americans' "
  (May 29, 2009)
• "Canadian Mosque's 'Specialized De-Radicalization Intervention Program' - Sounds Good"
  (February 26, 2009)
• "Pro-Islamic Ads Coming to New York City Subways: There's a Real Danger Here, of Becoming Informed"
  (July 21, 2008)
• "With Friends Like These, Does Islam Need Enemies?"
  (January 22, 2008)

In the news:

• "Blast kills cleric who denounced suicide attacks"
  CNN (June 12, 2009)