By Fakir Hassen
Johannesburg, Jul 13 (IANS) Terrorism was incompatible with the basic tenets of Islam, Hazrat Syed Muhammad Jilani Ashraf of the Kichochar-based Spiritual Foundation said at the launch of the new African headquarters of the Foundation here Sunday.

“A Muslim cannot be a terrorist and a terrorist cannot be a Muslim, because the inhuman methods used by terrorist are not in accord with what Islam teaches,” Jilani said.

“In Pakistan, people are killing their Muslim brothers and hanging their bodies in public. This in not what Islam teaches.”

Quoting a report in the Pakistani daily Jung, Jilani said a Lashkar-e-Taiba leader had confirmed that the suspected Al-Qaeda linked organisation would move into Kashmir and India after Afghanistan, and that Pakistan would be a “walkover”.

“But look at Pakistan today - three months later the Pakistani government cannot even control the insurgency. They have military personnel stationed at every mosque, strictly controlling access, and one cannot park a car anywhere near a mosque for fear of bombings.”

Condemning the December 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, Jilani said Islam stood for the protection of human life and dignity, irrespective of religion. The suicide bombings and attacks on civilian targets used by terrorist today in the name of Islam was leading to all Muslims being labelled as terrorists, when this was not the case.

Jilani said the situation had deteriorated to the extent that anyone who spoke out against terrorism or Al Qaeda was immediately seen as a friend of America, while anyone who spoke out about the actions employed in seeking out suspected terrorists in other countries was just as quickly branded as a supporter of organisations such as Al Qaida.

Jilani called for a return to the basic tenets of Islam of peaceful co-existence, as had been decreed by the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) to his followers as they spread the message across the world.