Indian Muslim clergy denounces terrorism

NEW DELHI, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- A top Indian Islamic seminary, Darul Uloom, and several other Muslim groups Monday adopted a declaration denouncing terrorism.

They declared that terrorism is un-Islamic. The declaration was finalized and adopted at an anti-terrorism conference held in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh state, attended by clerics, scholars and religious leaders from across the country.

"Delegates from about 6,000 madrassas from the country, Muslim leaders and clerics from several sects, besides foreign representatives attended the conference," said Ashraf Usmani, a member of the seminary in Deoband, whose original teachings from the 1800s were used by the Taliban during their rule in Afghanistan.

He said the conference called upon the Muslim community not to involve themselves in acts of terrorism. He said Muslim religious leaders asked the community not to join organizations that encourage violence in the name of religion: "We condemn terrorism and killing of innocent people," the conference said.

According to Maulana Abdul Hameed Nomani, Islamic scholar and spokesman of Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, terrorism has no place in civil society. He said all acts of terrorism and killing of innocent people of any religion are strictly prohibited.