AMMAN (JT) – A fatwa (religious edict) issued by a key cleric and veteran Muslim Brotherhood member has drawn fire from leading Muslim scholars, who questioned its authenticity, timing and the intentions behind it.

Sharia professor Mohammad Abu Fares was quoted Wednesday as telling a news website that “whoever dies in a protest [against the government], is considered a martyr… even if they were non-Muslims”.

Leading Salafist cleric, Ali Halabi, on Thursday issued a lengthy statement, rejecting the religious opinion as groundless and “an open call for killing and fitna [sedition]”.

The Kingdom’s mufti, Abdul Karim Khasawneh, also harshly criticised Abu Fares on Jordan TV on the same day for choosing a bad time to come up with an opinion that incites violence within society.

Both scholars underlined that dialogue is a better means to achieve the sought reforms instead of violent confrontations. read more