"Believers, Jews, Christians, and Sabaeans -- whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does what is right -- shall be rewarded by their Lord; they have nothing to fear or to regret." Qur'an 2:62
Iraqi Shia Marja Ali Sistani Calls on Muslims in West to Obey Western Law
Obey your country's laws, Marje Sistani urges Muslims in West By: Mohamed Ali
MONTREAL, Canada: Iraq's Al-Marje Al-Alaa Ali Sistani sent a message to Muslims in Western nations, urging them to obey the laws of the countries in which they live.
The fatwa was delivered at a Montreal news conference of prominent Shia Muslims on behalf of Ayatullah Sayyed Ali As-Sistani.
"Muslims have undertaken to obey the laws of the country of their residence and thus they must be faithful to that undertaking," the statement read.
It condemned all acts of violence and encouraged imams to keep a watchful eye on what's going on inside their mosques.
Al-Baqee.org Protest at Saudi Embassy, Washington, October 22, 2007 -- Photo credit: Geoffrey Cain (Global Voices)
Signed articles posted to Center for Islamic Pluralism websites express the individual opinion of their signatories and do not represent collective or unified positions of the Center, unless indicated.
Center for Islamic Pluralism Executive Director Stephen Schwartz will be featured on the Frank Pastore Show on KKLA radio in Los Angeles, 99.5 AM, Thursday, April 3, at 455 PM PDT, 755 PM EDT, discussing Saudi Arabia and its support for radical Islam. The show may be accessed on the internet at http://www.frankpastore.com/.
The Center for Islamic Pluralism unequivocally condemns the terrorist attack on the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva, a Jewish religious school, in Jerusalem on March 6, 2008.
The Center for Islamic Pluralism is pleased to announce the co-publication of Executive Director Stephen Suleyman Schwartz's The Two Faces of Islam: Saudi Fundamentalism and Its Role in Terrorismin the Indonesian language. The book, titled Dua Wajah Islam: Moderatisme vs. Fundamentalisme dalam Wacana Global, has appeared with a preface by the former Indonesian president, KH. Abdurrahman Wahid. The edition was copublished with Libforall, The Wahid Institute, and Blantika.
An event related to this publication will be held in Washington, DC, USA after the conclusion of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Copies of the Indonesian edition will also be made available on request to CIP.
Aziziye Mosque (19th century, Turkish), Tulcea, Romania, 1995
Photos: Stephen Schwartz
Islam the Present
Wahhabi vandalism of the graveyard at the Hadum Mosque Complex, Kosova, 2000
Photos: Stephen Schwartz
Islam the Future
New (21st century) mosque near the birth place of the Islamic philosopher Al-Farabi, Otrar, Kazakhstan, 2004
Bektashi Babas at the Funeral (xhenaze) of Baba Tahir Emini
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The Center for Islamic Pluralism is pleased to announce the co-publication of Executive Director Stephen Suleyman Schwartz's 
