Islamist Leader: We Are Not Moderates, Extremists, Democrats Or Progressives

Pakistan’s top Islamist leader Maulana Sufi Muhammad, who was released from prison by the Pakistani government under a Shari’a-for-peace deal, has vowed to work for the implementation of Shari’a across the country.

The Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Mashriq quoted Sufi Muhammad as saying that after the implementation of Shari’a in the Malakand-Swat region of the North West Frontier Province as agreed under the deal, he will start the Shari’a movement in different parts of Pakistan.

According to the report, Sufi Muhammad rejected allegations that after the implementation of Shari’a in the Malakand-Swat region, it will become difficult for foreign tourists go there due to fears of the Taliban.

According to another report in the Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Jang, Sufi Muhammad said: ‘‘Peace and security are possible only through the implementation of Shari’a... We [Taliban] are not progressives, democrats, moderates or extremists; but [we are] those Muslims who have been discussed in the Koran and Sunnat.’’

Source: Roznama Jang, Pakistan, May 16, 2008; Roznama Mashriq, Pakistan, May 16, 2008

(See also MEMRI Blog, Pakistan Releases Militant Islamist Leader Sufi Muhammad, April 22, 2008)

Al-Qaradhawi, Al-Sudayyis, Other Prominent Arab Islamic Scholars: Kashmiri Movement Is Jihad , Special Dispatch Series - No. 2365 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - May 20, 2009

Director of Political Committee of Taliban in Afghanistan, Warns Iran, Tajikistan Against Cooperating With U.S. , Special Dispatch Series - No. 2363 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - May19, 2009

Criticism in the Arab Press of U.S. Administration's Initiative to Reach Out to 'Moderates in the Taliban' ,Special Dispatch Series - No. 2353 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - May 12, 2009

Turkish Jihadist Commander Ebuzer in Afghanistan: Muslims Should Join Jihad,   Special Dispatch Series - No. 2350 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - May 11, 2009

Pakistani Author Ahmed Rashid: 'The Pakistani Taliban Movement is Turning Into a Multiethnic Movement [Not Limited to Pashtuns]; I No Longer Say That There's a Creeping Talibanization In Pakistan – It's a Galloping Talibanization' , Special Dispatch Series - No. 2348 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - May 8, 2009

In Recent Conference, Pakistani Clerics Denounce Government's Shari'a for Peace Deal with Taliban; Pronounce Suicide Attacks in Pakistan Forbidden; Say: 'Taliban Are Enemies of Humanity,' 'Jihad Should Be Declared Against Them'  Special Dispatch Series - No. 2335 - Urdu-Pashtu Media Project - April 30, 2008

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