Qalat mullahs meet with Jordanian, UK Imams

QALAT CITY, AFGHANISTAN

03.29.2011

Story by Tech. Sgt. Stacia Zachary 

United States Air Forces Central     

QALAT CITY, Afghanistan – The governor of Zabul province welcomed imams from the United Kingdom and Jordan for a mullah shura with the local elders to discuss leveraging the true meaning of Islam against the terrorist threat of insurgents.

The UK imam is visiting different provinces in Afghanistan to spread the message of peace. They also encouraged the local mullahs to have faith in the international communities' support of their cause.

"We hope the religious elders here can have talks [with surround countries harboring insurgents] and make them give you support," Imam Hafiz said. "I also am here to give the message that the international community is not here to hurt Islam but foster good relations among Muslim and non-Muslim peoples."

Before attending the mullah shura, Governor Ashraf Naseri briefed the imams on the current situation of Zabul province and the challenges they are currently facing.

"Security is improving day-by-day and the people like the stability growing in these areas," the governor explained. "The only problem, particularly in Zabul, is the lack of education, lack of employment and the [limited] sense of security here. War has been brought upon us and this has made increasing security difficult."

A concern of the governor is that regardless of their efforts to rebuild Afghanistan are being countermanded by the insurgent activities of the Taliban and other terrorist movements.

The cause of the fighting is outside this country and brought to use by neighboring countries harboring these terrorists, Naseri said.

In addition to these insurgents not being home grown, they are also uneducated or improperly educated in the teachings of the Quran and the message of Islam.

"The insurgents are mostly uneducated adolescents and criminals," the governor said. "They do not know how to pray. They are uneducated in true Islam and fight wrongly in its name."

The people of Zabul province echo this concern of the message insurgents are sending in the name of Islam.

"Terrorism is not allowing us to unify Afghanistan under Islam," said Sharif Allam, a Qalat religious elder. "They try to tear us apart for their own needs. I pray to Allah that our enemies go away ... and all the different races of Afghanistan unify as one."

Because of this misrepresentation of Islam, local mullahs are encouraged to speak openly and often to reinforce the true meaning explained in the Quran as well as spreading the universal religious message found in the text of peace.

"[The insurgents] are using religion against us because they do not know the true word of Islam," said Asim Hafiz, Imam to the United Kingdom Armed Forces. "That is why the mullahs need to remind them."

The government has seen that separation of state and religion is not the best way to resolve the solution of terrorist activity. Since the war is so heavily intertwined with religion, it's imperative to engage the population on a religious level as well. The local mullahs, therefore, are the key to educating the masses.

"The role of the mullahs in the communities is to bring peace upon us but the Taliban are sending us threats and making the people of Afghanistan fearful," Naseri said. "Islam is a religion of peace and the mullahs need to spread that message. The Taliban argues this is not the way but we hope through education, the majority of the Taliban will begin to agree with us and turn to peace under true Islam."

Mullah shuras such as these bring light to the current situation.

"The importance of having mullahs gather together and talk about religious issues is that they get a better connection to the government," said 1st Lt. Brian Wagner, Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul public affairs officer. "They have a better understanding of what [the government is] as well as what other religious leaders of the province are doing. It's a good collaboration to bring them both together in one place, one time to discuss how to work together to find the best solution to deal with current issues."

The one resounding message to come from the shura is violence in the name of religion goes against all teachings in the Quran.

"I think if you are able to portray these principles of peace to the Afghans and the wider community, we will be able to convince them that Islam is the way to peace," Imam Hafiz said. "The misuse of the Quran to promote violence is not correct and will only serve to harm all the good that is being done here."

"Today's shura ensured that mullahs and influential village elders gathered here and listen to the British and Jordanian Imams speak about the Quran and how they can help out in connecting the government with religious figures," Wagner said.

• Date Taken: 03.29.2011
• Date Posted: 03.29.2011 03:53
• Story ID: 67904
• Location: QALAT CITY, AF