On Friday, Canadian and American Muslim Leaders produced a religious edict, or fatwa, which clearly states any attack on Canada or the United States, is tantamount to an attack on the 10 million Muslims living in North America. The 20 imams who signed the fatwa come from Texas, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario.
Imam Syed Soharwardy of Calgary, Alberta and founder of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada said an assault on the U.S. or Canada is the same thing as attacking Muslims. “We are part of this society,” he said.
“This is my home… and if anybody attacks Canada, in fact, they attack my home.
The edict states, “These attacks are evil and Islam requires Muslims to stand up against this evil.”
“Muslims in Canada and the U.S. have a duty to protect both countries. They must expose any person, Muslim or non-Muslim, who would cause harm to fellow Canadians or Americans,” declared the group of 20 imams on the council.
The council went on to say, “It is religious obligation put upon Muslims, based upon the teachings of the Quran, that we be loyal to the country where we live.”
Imam Nasir Qadri of the Anwar Musallah Mosque in Montreal and fellow council member said he spoke to his followers at his mosque about the issue Friday. Most feel threatened by the attacks and call Canada their one and only home.
The fatwa comes after the attempted Christmas Day bombing of a U.S. jet bound for Detroit from Amsterdam by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. The 23-year-old Nigerian born man has been charged with attempting to use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder.