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"There
are many U.S. intellectuals and key figures opposed to Bush's
policies who could join the Campaign," Sultan
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By
Hamam Abdelmaboud, IOL Cairo Staff
CAIRO,
April 30 (IslamOnline.net) - Some 225 religious and political figures
over the Islamic world signed the Declaration of the Global
Anti-aggression Campaign on Wednesday, April 30, as a framework to unite
efforts "in alerting the community concerning its right to
self-defense and resistance to the aggression of enemies in all possible
legitimate and effective means."
"The
Muslim nation has been subjected to vicious aggression at the hands of
the forces of tyranny and oppression, especially the Zionists and the
American administration led by right-wing extremists," read a
statement by the founders of the group.
The
statement, a copy of which was faxed to IslamOnline.net, said that the
U.S. and Zionists are working to "expand their control over nations
and peoples, loot their resources, destroy their will, and to change
their educational curricula and social system."
It
added that the aggression is comprehensive in nature and has taken the
form of "falsifying facts, ridiculing Islamic values, attacking the
Qur'an and Prophet Muhammad, deceptive media campaigns, and economic
extortion."
"One
of the worst forms it has taken has been armed attacks on peaceful
countries and peoples such as the American and British invasions we have
seen in Iraq and Afghanistan which have destroyed industrial facilities
and infrastructure, killed women, children and the elderly, and
destroyed cities over the heads of their occupants."
The
225 signatories of the statement included Pakistani Brotherhood leader
al-Qadi Hussein Ahmed, Kashmiri Islamic Brotherhood leader I'gaz Afdal
and Kuwaiti Salfist Movement secretary general Hakim al-Mutayri.
"This
sinful aggression has caused humanity to revert to the hateful days of
colonialism when the imperial states violated the inviolability of weak
peoples - exploiting their resources and fiddling with their values-
when the law of jungle reigned supreme."
As
for the war against Iraq, the statement said it was an insult to the
concept of human dignity which are protected by all laws and religions,
and in violation of treaties and conventions.
The
statement also highlighted the aggressions against Palestinians by
Israeli occupation forces which are "occupying Palestine, expelling
unbending people and infringing their rights, and defiling Islamic holy
places."
The
Campaign also put an emphasis on the threatening danger to other Islamic
countries as Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
"The
issue is not with military occupation rather than plots for economic and
cultural control as well as sending missionaries," Egyptian writer
Gamal Sultan, told IslamOnline.net.
"There
are many U.S. intellectuals and key figures opposed to Bush's policies
who could join the Campaign," said Sultan, one of the signatories.
The
statement was also signed by Iraqi Islamic cleric Ahmed al-Kubeisi,
Morocco's Justice and Development Party leader Ahmed al-Ruseini and
Abdel-Aziz al-Tuweigri, a key Islamic cleric in Saudi Arabia.
Among
the goals of the Campaign is working to repel "the aggression of
our enemies with all possible legitimate means," and reawaken the
Islamic spirit among Muslims to serve their Faith and nation, and to
defend their rights.
It
is also meant to clarify the true image of Islam, "to explain the
humanitarian and ethical aspects of its laws and to expose the falsehood
of the campaigns of prejudice against Islam".
The
Campaign also called for active cooperation among peoples, organizations
and international bodies opposed to the oppression and domination of
peoples and their resources.
