Video - Netanyahu's presentation on Iran's deceit.

Related:

Flashback ---> September 13, 2015: #Iran 're-discovers' unexpectedly high uranium reserve deposits.

Video - Palestinian Ambassador to Iran: I Pray that Iran Will Produce 1,000 Nuclear Bombs

Palestinian Ambassador to Iran: I Pray that Iran Will Produce 1,000 Nuclear Bombs. (MEMRI).

In a February 20 interview on Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV, Palestinian Ambassador to Iran Salah Zawawi warned against what he called the "Western enterprise" to establish the Greater Israel and to turn the Arabs into "servants, if not slaves in our region." 

"I pray to Allah that Iran will produce 1,000 nuclear bombs," he said, adding that they would not be directed against Arab or Islamic countries, but "would be used to defend the Islamic Republic and its principles."Hmmm.....So much for the 'Nuclear Fatwa'

'Iran May Be Allowed to Develop Nukes If Stops Supporting Palestine': Grand Mufti of Syria.

'Iran May Be Allowed to Develop Nukes If Stops Supporting Palestine': Grand Mufti of Syria. (IFP).

The Grand Mufti of Syria believes that the West would permit Iran to have nuclear weapons if it stops supporting Palestine and its cause.

“If Iran abandoned the Palestinian cause, the West would have allowed it to manufacture nuclear weapons,” Syrian Grand Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Badr al-Din Hassoun said, according to a Farsi report by Bultan News.

He then criticized other Islamic countries for not supporting Palestine, saying, “We are witnessing in the Arab and Islamic countries that they have forgotten the Palestinian cause.” Hmmm.....The whole 'Nuclear Fatwa' claim is BS. 

Video - Muslim Brotherhood 'Godfather' Qaradhawi Retracts Fatwa Permitting Palestinian Suicide Bombings: No Need for Them Anymore.

Khamenei: "Iran Considers WMD as Red line for Its Defense Program"

Khamenei: "Iran Considers WMD as Red line for Its Defense Program". (IFP).

The Leader made the remarks addressing a group of top officials and specialists of Iran’s Ministry of Defence after touring an exhibition of the achievements of Iran’s defence industries on Wednesday, August 31.

“Under conditions when bullying world powers have spread their umbrella of power and no mercy is seen in them and openly attack marriage ceremonies and hospitals on the pretext of fighting against terrorism, killing hundreds of innocent people without being accountable to any [international] organization or institution, [Iran’s] defensive capability and power must be increased so that bullying powers would feel threatened,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

The Leader added that Iran considers limitations for developing its defense industries and considers building nuclear and chemical weapons prohibited on the basis of its ideological beliefs.

“Apart from these limitations, there is no limitation in other fields for increasing our defense and military capability and progress in these fields is a duty,” the Leader said, adding that to preserve the country’s security and future of the nation, “in addition to defensive capability, offensive capability should be also bolstered.” Hmmm.....How about the 'Offensive program?' Read the full story here.

'Iran's Ballistic Missile Development Program Not Confined to Any Range': Defense Minister.

'Iran's Ballistic Missile Development Program Not Confined to Any Range': Defense Minister. (Fars).

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan underlined that his country sees no limit for the range of the ballistic missiles that it is developing.

"We don’t have any limit for the range of liquid or solid-fueled ballistic missiles," Dehqan said in a meeting in the Central city of Isfahan on Saturday.

He underlined the indigenous nature of most Iranian weapons and military equipment, and said, "90 percent of the country's defense systems have reached an acceptable standard and enjoy competitive quality compared with the weapons of advanced countries; production of the national individual weapons and efforts to improve the quality and precision-striking power of ballistic missiles are among the defense ministry's achievements in the defense field."

General Dehqan added that Iranian experts have also taken long strides in building satellites, satellite carriers, missile launchpads and research work in defense areas.

His remarks came as the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) fired 2 home-made 'Qadr H' ballistic missiles from the Eastern Alborz Mountains at a target in Iran's Southeastern Makran seashore some 1400km away in March.

The missiles were fired on the sidelines of the main stage of the IRGC drills in Central Iran and various parts of the country.

One missile had a message written on it that said in Hebrew: "Israel should be wiped off the Earth".

Qadr is a 2000km-range, liquid-fuel and ballistic missile which can reach territories as far as Israel.

The missile can carry different types of ‘Blast’ and ‘MRV’ (Multiple Reentry Vehicle) payloads to destroy a range of targets. The new version of Qadr H can be launched from mobile platforms or silos in different positions and can escape missile defense shields due to their radar-evading capability.

Improved warhead designs allow smaller warheads for a given yield, while better electronics and guidance systems allowed greater accuracy. As a result MIRV technology has proven more attractive than MRV for advanced nations. 

Because of the larger amount of nuclear material consumed by MRVs and MIRVs, single warhead missiles are more attractive for nations with less advanced technology. The United States deployed an MRV payload on the Polaris A-3. The Soviet Union deployed MRVs on the SS-9 Mod 4 ICBM. Hmmmm.....Anyone remembering how Iran's BFF North Korea is working on miniaturized nuclear warheads?

Video: Flashback 2015 - Iranian Journalist Amir Taheri: 'There is no Iran Nuclear Deal'

And we're off to the Nuclear races - Saudi Arabia wants to buy "Iskander" missiles with nuclear capabilities of Russia.

And we're off to the Nuclear races - Saudi Arabia wants to buy "Iskander" missiles with nuclear capabilities of Russia. (Moscowtimes).

Saudi Arabia may become the first foreign buyer of Russia's deadly Iskander-E missile system, Kommersant newspaper reported Wednesday in the wake of a meeting between the Russian and Saudi foreign ministers in Moscow, citing unidentified Russian defense industry sources.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir officially confirmed his country's interest in the Russian missiles at a press conference on Tuesday, and according to IHS Jane's 360 defense analysis group, the Saudis are interested in a wide variety of hardware, including new frigates for their navy.

“Intensive contacts are taking place between the military delegations and specialists from both countries and a wide range of intended types of armaments from Russia is being discussed, including Iskander missile systems,” al-Jubeir was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying Tuesday.

But according to Ruslan Pukhov, director of the Center for the Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, a Moscow-based defense think tank, it is highly unlikely that a Saudi-Russian arms deal will go through.

“The Iskander is a very deadly system, and we don't know how Saudi Arabia might use it … and they are close allies of the U.S., so there is a risk that if we deliver Iskanders to them, the U.S. will get to inspect the system and then develop countermeasures against it, because it's also designed to hit U.S. allies in Europe, such as Poland,” Pukhov said.

According to unidentified military industrial sources quoted by Kommersant, Saudi Arabia has submitted to Russia a concrete proposal for buying Iskander systems, along with a handful of other high-value hardware, but pre-contract negotiations have not started.

The sources, however, cautioned that Russian and Saudi arms deals have historically fallen through before reaching agreements, and Saudi Arabia in recent years has rapidly become the largest arms importer in the world, buying almost exclusively U.S. equipment.

Yury Barmin, a Russian expert in the Middle East arms trade, said he doubted that Saudi Arabia is trying to use arms procurements as a means to influence Russian policy in the region, and is more likely sending a message to the U.S. and Iran that it is unhappy with the recent Iran deal in which the U.S. and other countries agreed to soften economic sanctions against Iran in exchange for promises regarding its nuclear program.

Saudi Arabia in 2007 purchased Chinese-made DF-21 medium range ballistic missiles, which are similar to Russia's Iskander, but Beijing modified the system to ensure the Saudis couldn't carry nuclear warheads. Iskanders can carry nuclear warheads, and Barmin argued that Saudi Arabia might want that option.

“Saudi Arabia thinks that the [Iranian nuclear] deal last month unties Iran's hands and that the country will still go ahead and develop nuclear weapons, so it may be Riyadh’s way of showing the world it reserves the right to do the same,” he said.

Moreover, it's doubtful that the Saudis are trying to use an arms contract to influence Russian policy toward Syria, since the 2013 attempt at a $15 billion buy didn't work, Barmin concluded. Hmmm.....Don't you feel safe now that Pres. Hussein Obama has saved us from the Iranian nukes?Read the full story here.

North Korea will “retaliate against the US with tremendous muscle” if the US does not cancel the war games - Official.

North Korea will “retaliate against the US with tremendous muscle” if the US does not cancel the war games - Official. (Taz).

North Korea says it will attack the United States if Washington does not cancel the multinational military exercises which are slated to begin on Monday, PressTV reported.

The yearly exercises, called Ulchi Freedom Guardian, will be carried out by the US, South Korea and other allies to enhance “readiness, protect the region and maintain stability on the Korean peninsula," read a statement from the Korea-US Combined Forces Command.

“The further Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint military exercises are intensified, the stronger military counteraction the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] will take to cope with them,” said a spokesman for North Korea’s National Defense Commission on Saturday.

North Korea will “retaliate against the US with tremendous muscle” if the US does not cancel the war games, he said

The spokesman added that the North Korean army and people “are no longer what they used to be in the past when they had to counter the US nukes with rifles.”

Pyongyang is an “invincible power” and the country’s army possesses the “latest offensive and defensive means unknown to the world,” he stated.

Also, North Korean state television KCNA said Saturday that Washington has to stop the exercises “immediately” if the “United States wants its mainland to be safe.”

Tens of thousands of American and South Korean military forces are scheduled to take part in the joint exercise which will last for 12 days.

In addition, other US allies, including Australia, Britain, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France and New Zealand will participate in the drills.

North Korea is under UN sanctions over launching rockets considered by the US and South Korea as ballistic missiles aimed at delivering nuclear warheads, but Pyongyang says its numerous missile tests seek to boost defense capabilities in the face of enemy threats.

Pres Hussein Obama May not accept rejection of Iran deal by U.S. Congress.

Pres Hussein Obama May not accept rejection of Iran deal by U.S. Congress. (WND).

Kerry won't promise Hussein Obama 'Admin' will follow law if Congress negates agreement.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of State John Kerry dropped a quiet bombshell on an unsuspecting Democratic congressman who appeared to believe he was asking a routine question at the House Foreign Affairs committee hearing on the Iran deal Tuesday.

“Let’s say Congress doesn’t take your advice, we override a veto, and the law that’s triggered then imposes certain sanctions,” asked U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif.

“Will you follow the law even though you think it violates this agreement clearly and even if you think it’s absolutely terrible policy?”

Kerry then refused to assure the congressman that President Obama and his administration would follow the law if Congress rejects his Iran deal.

Instead, he replied, “I can’t begin to answer that at this point without consulting with the president and determining what the circumstances are.”

A seemingly shocked Sherman responded, as though maybe he hadn’t heard correctly, “So, you’re not committed to following the law?”

“No, I said I’m not going to deal with a hypothetical, that’s all,” said Kerry, leaving the door wide open to the possibility the president would just ignore the law. Hmmm....L'Etat c'est moi. Read the full story here.

Saudi Arabia's Religious Affairs Minister Abdul Aziz Al-Ammar: 'Pakistan's Atomic Bomb Belongs To The World Of Islam'.

Saudi Arabia's Religious Affairs Minister Abdul Aziz Al-Ammar: 'Pakistan's Atomic Bomb Belongs To The World Of Islam'. HT: Memri.

On a visit of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia's Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Dawah Abdul Aziz Al-Ammar has said that Pakistan's nuclear bomb is not of Pakistan alone but belongs to the entire Islamic world. 

The Saudi minister's statement came in the wake of a resolution adopted by the Pakistani parliament that called for a neutral Pakistani stance on the Yemen conflict.

Al-Ammar, who is visiting Pakistan to clarify the Saudi standpoint on the Yemen conflict, stated at a meeting in Karachi that "Pakistan is our friend-country. We hope that at this stage cooperation will be done with us [in Yemen]. 

He said that Pakistan's atom [bomb] is not of Pakistan alone but is of the world of Islam. The entire world of Islam is proud of it…"

"We are proud of Pakistan's atomic program," said the Saudi minister, according to an April 17 report – titled "Pakistan's atomic bomb belongs to the world of Islam: Saudi minister" and published by an Urdu-language website.

Speaking about the Iranian role in Yemen, Al-Ammar said: "We have verified evidence that Iran is providing all support to the [Houthi] rebels, and Iran is behind the rebellion. We will not permit anyone to interfere in the Arabian Peninsula." He added: "We have the proof that the Houthi rebels have acted with Iranian support and Iranian weapons." Read the full story here.

Russia Changing details & Price S-300 Contract with Iran, delivery by 2016

Russia Changing details and Price S-300 Contract with Iran, delivery by 2016.(Presstv).

Russia is assembling its S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system to begin its shipment to Iran by 2016, the Kremlin’s top official for the arms trade says.

Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Vladimir Kozhin, President Vladimir Putin’s aide on military-technical cooperation, added that Moscow is also modernizing some parts of the system and changing contract terms such as the pricing.

“The Iranians want them as soon as possible, and we are trying too. There is activity to prepare new legal contracts, new conditions and thus prepare systems for delivery,” Kozhin said.

He added that some of the military systems that had been intended for sale to Iran were supplied to other clients, and that some parts of other S-300 systems stored across Russia have undergone “serious modernization” with the passage of years. Hmmm.....As i pointed out months ago, the S-300 Iran bought years ago is no longer produced, left only the possibility of delivery of that type from Russian army units who have that type....or change the contract. Read the full story here.

Obama's BFF Iran says IAEA report legally problematic.

Obama's BFF Iran says IAEA report legally problematic. (Taz).

Iran has said that a recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Iranian nuclear program contains legal problems.

Behrooz Kamalvandi, deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, said that the report is repetitive and contains unfounded accusations, Mehr news agency reported May 30.

The report is going to be referred to the UN Security Council Board of Directors next week.

Referring to IAEA Secretary General Yukiya Amano’s statement of inability to express any idea about Iran's “unannounced” nuclear activities, Kamalvandi said that the issue can be addressed via the Additional Protocol to the NPT and furthermore, Iran believes its activities are peaceful, something the IAEA also confirms.

He also pointed to the impression that the IAEA may have the authority to inspect any place in Iran at any time and said that the impression is not true.

“Even the Additional Protocol would not give the IAEA such a privilege, neither about Iran nor about any other country,” Kamalvandi asserted.

Commenting on IAEA request to visit Iran's Parchin military site, Kamalvandi said that upon a request by the agency in 2011, a report was filed that listed people, documents, and places demanded by the IAEA in 23 items.

Access was given so as to give the IAEA the chance to say that it has had no unvisited place.
“Under situations when we are holding talks with the group 5+1 (the US, UK, France, Russia, China, and Germany) as UN Security Council members and have granted that Iran's peaceful activities be continued with some voluntary limitations, the IAEA points to the issue of the suspension of our activities in the Security Council,” Kamalvandi said.


“If the IAEA considers UN Security Council resolutions, then it must take into consideration the agreements we had with the 5+1 as well. Therefore, the IAEA secretary general’s report has problems,” he concluded. Hmmm.....How dare the IAEA ask all these Questions when Obama already approved everything.

UN Nuke agency report: 'Assessment of allegations that Tehran worked on atomic arms essentially stalled.'

UN Nuke agency report: 'Assessment of allegations that Tehran worked on atomic arms essentially stalled.' (NCRI).

Amid nuclear negociations between the six world powers and the Iranian regime, the U.N. atomic agency on Friday reported that work on a key element — an assessment of allegations that Tehran worked on atomic arms — remains essentially stalled, The Associated Press reported from Vienna.

The report from the International Atomic Energy Agency also reiterated that more cooperation is needed by Tehran for full clarity on its present activities. 

Without it, the IAEA said it cannot "conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities."

Diplomats in Vienna view Iran's reluctance to open up to investigators from the International Atomic Energy Agency as a sign of its reluctance to cooperate fully until punitive sanctions imposed on it are lifted as part of any settlement with the powers, Reuters reported.

The IAEA is focused on 12 activities that point to clerical regime’s attempts to make nuclear weapons, including activities related to work on the development on a nuclear payload for missiles.

The IAEA relaunched its probe two years ago by asking for information on less sensitive work related to nuclear arms that may have been carried out by Tehran, with hopes of moving to larger issues later.

Since August, "Iran has yet to propose any new practical measures" to bring the investigation forward, said the report.

The IAEA report, issued to the agency's 35-nation board and the U.N. Security Council, said it remains "concerned about the possible existence in Iran of undisclosed nuclear-related activities involving military-related organizations, including activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for missiles."

"Iran is required to cooperate fully with the Agency on all outstanding issues."

The Vienna-based IAEA also said it remained vital that Iran respond to the agency's questions on and access to the Parchin military base, where Western officials suspect Tehran conducted explosives tests relevant to nuclear bombs.

"The (IAEA) remains ready to accelerate the resolution of all outstanding issues under the Framework for Cooperation. This can be realized by increased cooperation by Iran and by the timely provision of access to all relevant information, documentation, sites, material and personnel in Iran as requested by the agency," the report said.

A tentative agreement was reached between the Iranian regime, the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China on April 2.

But pivotal issues remain unresolved, including the pace of easing Western sanctions and the extent of monitoring and verification measures to ensure Tehran honours any agreement.


The Iranian regime has ruled out any nuclear inspector access to its military bases, a position rejected by the Western powers.

Video - IRAN: Nuclear cooperation between Iran regime & North Korea, NCRI reveals

According to the information from various sources inside of the clerical regime, a delegation from North Korea including experts in nuclear warhead, and various elements of ballistic were present in the country for one week at the end of April.

The information obtained by the PMOI (MEK) network is based on dozens of reports from various sources inside of the clerical regime, in particular from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), the Ministry of Defense (MoD), the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), which is in charge of working on the weaponization aspect of the nuclear program, and also the Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO).

Due to high security sensitivities, the nuclear and missile delegations from North Korea both enter and leave Iran in total secrecy. The revelations provided detailed information on the exact location of the place where North Koreans stayed in the country.

Iranian officers in North Korea

Those that visited this year stayed in the special guest house of the AIO near a Hemat Industries site in the Khojeir area, located in North-east of Tehran. According to complied reports, delegations of experts and commanders of the IRGC and MoD, particularly those in the fields of nuclear and missile-related activities visit North Korea regularly.

The Iranian resistance exposed the activities and work on a nuclear warhead in Khojeir area in February 2008.

The next delegation of North Korean experts is scheduled to arrive in Iran in June and will be comprised of nine experts.

Mr. Shahin Gobadi, PMOI spokesman, said: “the above information reveals another aspect of the Iranian regime’s secret nuclear weapons program. It is another indication that so far as the clerical regime is concerned, it has no intention of giving up its nuclear weapons program and that the drive to acquire nuclear weapons remains at the core of the regime’s nuclear program. This is the message of extensive cooperation with North Korea and presence of Tehran’s key nuclear figure during North Korean nuclear test.”

“This conduct is in keeping with the positions of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials of the regime”

Mr. Gobadi added: “Both IAEA inspections of military sites and interviews with nuclear scientists. Tehran’s objectives are nothing but continuing the regime’s policy of concealment and duplicity in a bid to complete and advance its nuclear projects. “ Hmmmm......Obama's BFF Iran.

Video - Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif labeled as a traitor in the parliament.

HT and source:

#Iran For. Minister #Javad_Zarif labeled as a #traitor in the parliament. + #Iran really fear #ISIS https://t.co/uNsTNFNz93

— Hannibal (@Hannibalum) May 28, 2015

'CHANGE' - SAUDI ARABIA has taken the “strategic decision” to acquire “off-the-shelf” atomic weapons from Pakistan.

Saudi missile base.

'CHANGE' - SAUDI ARABIA has taken the “strategic decision” to acquire “off-the-shelf” atomic weapons from Pakistan. (ST).

SAUDI ARABIA has taken the “strategic decision” to acquire “off-the-shelf” atomic weapons from Pakistan, risking a new arms race in the Middle East, according to senior American officials.

The move by the Gulf kingdom, which has financed much of Islamabad’s nuclear programme over the past three decades, comes amid growing anger among Sunni Arab states over a deal backed by President Barack Obama, which they fear could allow their arch foe, Shi’ite Iran, to develop a nuclear bomb.

The agreement, which is due to be finalised by the end of next month and involves the permanent members of the UN security council and Germany, is designed to roll back part of Tehran’s nuclear programme in return for an easing of UN sanctions.

There are concerns that Saudi Arabia joining the nuclear club might provoke Turkey and Egypt to follow suit.

“For the Saudis the moment has come,”. Hmmm.....Sounds like the Saudis don't trust Hussein Obama's 'guarantees' very much. Read the full story here.

'YES WE CAN' - Senate approves bill on reviewing a proposed nuclear deal with Iran.

'YES WE CAN' - Senate approves bill on reviewing a proposed nuclear deal with Iran. (Wapo).

The Senate gave overwhelming approval Thursday to legislation that would establish a congressional review for a proposed nuclear deal with Iran, as Republican leaders set aside efforts from their own rank and file to amend the carefully crafted bipartisan compromise.

On a 98-to-1 vote, the Senate lent a bipartisan boost to the measure — which the House is likely to approve next week — that would allow for a 30-day review of any final deal with Iran, giving what supporters said is a congressional voice to the process as President Obama finishes negotiations with the Islamic republic.

“Without this bill, there is no review,” Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said during the closing debate, which shut off a bid from younger conservatives to toughen the language even if meant a collapse of support for the oversight. “No bill, no review.” Read the full story here.

Israeli F-16 train with Greek air force missions against S-300 (Iran - Russia).

Israeli F-16 train with Greek air force missions against S-300 (Iran - Russia). (TA).

The Israeli Air Force has used INIOXOS-2015, one the largest annual exercise of the Hellenic Air Force, to prepare for a potential situation where it will have to attack Iranian nuclear facilities by performing missions against the S-300PMU-1 surface-to-air missile system, stationed in Crete, according to Flightglobal.

Russia has recently lifted the ban on sale of S-300 systems to Iran.

Israel deployed 10 F-16I Sufa jets from four Squadrons (201 «The One», 253 «The Negev», 107 «The Knights of the Orange Tail» and 119 «The Bat) at the 117 Combat Wing/Andravida Air Base and U.S. Air Force in Europe dispatched a number of SF personnel as JTACs (Joint Terminal Attack Controllers).

Thanks to the exercise in Greece (not the first attended by the Israeli since the deterioration of their relations with Turkey), the Israeli Air Force has gathered important data about the Russian SAM system and had the opportunity to test and improve evasion tactics during simulated attacks against ground targets protected by S-300 batteries.Read the full story here.

Outdated religious Islamic laws must be changed, UAE forum hears.

Outdated religious Islamic laws must be changed, UAE forum hears. (TN).


ABU DHABI // Calls for renewal of religion, reassessment of outdated religious laws and orders, and putting an end to excommunication, were made by leading Muslim scholars at the second forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies.

Reviving Fiqh, Islamic science, is no longer an option, but rather a “life buoy” to stop indiscriminate applications of past-time fatwas or excommunication by extremist groups, said the grand imam of Al Azhar.

“Renewal is fundamental in the Islamic religion, which is based on constantly linking between religious texts, the purpose of these texts and the current living reality,” said Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah, president of the forum.

“There are calls to renew religion and religious speech and a religious revolution, as the Prophet’s companion, Ibn Masoud, said: ‘One who wants religion shall revolutionise the Quran’.”

He said that commands in religious revelations should be taken in context and they should be viewed based on the general principle and universal purpose of their implication.

He called for reviewing the fundamentals of Islamic science, as many rulings are no longer applicable in modern society.

“So people take the revelation and think it is universally applicable in every time and place,” added Sheikh Hamza Youssef, a renowned Muslim personality and president of Zaytuna College.

“For example, Omar bin Al Khattab suspended [the Sharia penalty] for theft during drought.”

Another example is the apostasy law, which used to be a universal principle and the general mentality of people at that time that leaving one’s religion is a capital offence punished by death, which existed in Christianity also.

“That was to protect the religion … but it is no longer the mentality for the age we live in, so when you look at the universal principle of Islam it is to attract people towards religion.” However, he said, in the current age applying apostasy law will cause more people to leave religion than to join it so it has an opposite effect.

As for other Sharia penalties, specialised scholars need to sit and think about them: “It all needs to be reassessed,” he added.

Sheikh bin Bayyah said that only the majority of specialised scholars could play the role of religion renovators.

Rulers are not expected to be angels, prophets or even good men of religion, their role is to run the state well, and even if they were corrupt it is not permissible to rebel against them by force like excommunicators do, because that results in destruction and death of innocent souls, he said.

Grand Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayyeb, of Al Azhar University, said Fiqh principles should be revised to stop extremist groups from using excommunication as an excuse to kill anyone who disagrees with their organisation.

They are using a fatwa issued centuries ago by the scholar Ibn Taymiya, “who was busy facing the fierce and violent bloodshed between Muslims and Tatar groups”, he said.

Since the majority of scholars agreed that *fatwas change with the change of time, place, circumstance and conditions, such principles do not apply any longer.

He also called the forum to collect literature and media publications issued by terrorist groups to counter their arguments.  Hmmmm.......Fatwa....like 'Nuclear Fatwa'?