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21:40 GMT
WASHINGTON, March 2 (KUNA) -- The United States on Tuesday welcomed Islamic
scholar Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadris fatwa condemning terrorism in all its forms
as a "very important step" in curbing counter-radicalization, the State
Department said.
Following the rare fatwa issues in Britain by ul-Qadri, leader of the
Minhaj ul-Quran religious and educational organization, State Department
spokesman Philip Crowley said the United States "welcomes these kinds of
developments, whether in Britain or elsewhere around the world as being very
important steps in having Muslims themselves make their own judgement about
vision that Al Qaeda and bin Laden have propogated."
"Anyone who comes forward and rejects that vision, we welcome those steps,"
Crowley added.
He also told reporters during a press briefing that the US and other
countries have "emulated" Britains "very significant, detailed, extensive
counter-radicalization strategy" for the past few years, including extensive
outreach within the Muslim communities.
Crowley indicated that improved dialogue with the Muslim communities will
be one of "the cornerstones that will help us ultimately minimize and then
defeat radical movements" in the United States. (end)
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