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Der Krieg ist der Vater der Dinge. -HERAKLIT
29 September 2002
On 28 September 2002, the Internet Website ISLAM ONLINE featured an Online-Chat with Hamed Bittawi, one of the Palestinian Authority's senior judges and religious sages, on the "Religious Edicts" segment of the Website. In this forum, Hamed Bittawi gave his authorization for the participation of women and children in suicide terror attacks, and said the commandments of Jihad overrule the commandment of honoring one's parents.
The relevant quotations from the questions presented to Hamed Bittawi, as well as his responses:
Q: "Are children allowed to participate in carrying out suicide terror attacks?"
A: "According to a religious edict and [relying on] the words of Alla - Youths and adults, Make haste. Fight the War of Jihad using your money and [sacrificing] you souls for the way of Alla. The religious sages have pointed out that men, women and children alike, should all follow this route [of Jihad]. In the era of Muhamad the prophet, the participation of children [who have not yet reached the age of maturity] was a well-known fact - yet now we live in this existing reality in Palestine. We hold a great deal of love towards Jihad and for the sacrifice of one's self in honor of Alla. This situation has brought many children to compete amongst themselves regarding the carrying out of the operations of Jihad and acts of suicide. However, many of these acts and operations were unsuccessful, and especially due to the anticipation and forecasting abilities of the enemy. Therefore, the Islamic movement was forced to ask these children to wait patiently and not carry out the suicide acts until they've completed their studies, trained and learned to act diligently and with caution".
Q: "We would appreciate it if you could clarify your grounds concerning the participation of women in suicide terror attacks".
A: "The religious sages have said that when the enemy occupies and conquers a land belonging to Muslims, the Jihad becomes a commandment that must be fulfilled by every Muslim - man or woman. A woman can carry out Jihad without her husband's permission. The women in the era of Muhamad, the prophet, used to take part in Jihad. Women throughout Palestine can participate in a form of Jihad, including suicide terror attacks.
Several blessed women have already fulfilled their task. However, it is my opinion that women should be patient because there is a very long queue of men willing to carry out suicide terror attacks. Moreover, it is important to point out that the Palestinian women have exhibited marvelous examples [of willingness to participate] such as H'ansa [a woman who sent her four sons to the battle of Kadisiya in the era of Muhamad the prophet, and is idolized because of this in Islam]. The public has seen on their television screens how mother sent her son to carry out Jihad, bids him farewell and encourages him. Many mothers and women, after hearing their son was killed, cry out exclamations of happiness and joy. We raise our heads up high in honor of these women".
Q: "What is the verdict of those who do as their parents say, when they insist that their son not-participate in the battle with the enemy?"
A: "Even those who carried out suicide missions in Palestine did not consult with their fathers when they went on their way [to carry out Jihad]. When Jihad is announced, it overrules the honor and duty one holds to one's father, mother, children, wife and possessions".
Date of birth: 4 December 1944. Place of birth: the village of Bitta, south of Nablus. Studied in the faculty of Islamic Religious Edicts at the Jordanian University.
In 1968, after graduating from university, he was appointed as a clerk in the "Shar'aim" court (ruling in accordance with Islamic Religious Edicts) in the West Bank.
In 1991, he graduated and received second degree in the faculty of Islamic Religious Edicts at the Al-Najah University in Nablus. When he lived in Jordan, it was noticeable that his religious path was highly affected by the senior religious sages of the Muslim brotherhood, including Fadel Ubas, Ibrahim Zeid Alkilani, Ishak Farhan, Yosef Al'Azam etc. Hamed Bittawi was also very highly influenced by the doctrine of Said Kotub and Yusuf Kardawi.
Hamed Bittawi climbed 'the ladder of success' in the Palestinian courts in Nablus, until he was received the "Sharui" (judge) appointment.
After the Palestinian Authority was established in 1995, Hamed Bittawi was appointed head of the appellate courts in Nablus, the same appointment he maintains today.
In 1985 he was appointed Dep. Interpretation of Holy Scriptures in the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Since 1991 he has been the leader of the religious sages union.
Hamed Bittawi is considered an authority with regards to religious edicts for the Hamas organization in Nablus. During the past two years, he has taken a very central role in the activity of the Hamas organization, and he has encouraged them to stick with the way of the Jihad and the carrying out of suicide terror attacks against the State of Israel. He is a well-known supporter of the suicide terror attacks and he preaches in favor of directing terror against innocent Israeli civilians (which he justifies religiously). Due to this, the Palestinian Authority did not condemn his operations, did not go out against his radical perspectives and did not take any measures against him whatsoever.
1. 8 June 2002, Hamed Bittawi holding a gun in an anti-Israeli and anti-American demonstration.
http://www.idf.il/newsite/english/048-2.jpg
2. 22 February 2002, Hamed Bittawi holding an M-16 Sa'ar rifle in a gathering of the Hamas organization in Nablus, held in memory of suicide terrorists.
http://www.idf.il/newsite/english/048-1.jpg
Article's source
http://www.islamonline.net/livefatwa/arabic/browse.asp?hguestid=kk99uz
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