Islamic scholar issues anti-terrorism fatwa

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An influential Muslim scholar has issued a global ruling against terrorism and suicide bombing. Dr Tahir ul-Qadri says his fatwa completely dismantles al-Qaeda’s violent ideology. The scholar describes al-Qaeda as an “old evil with a new name.” Dr Qadri’s organization, Minhaj ul-Quran, is growing in Britain. Marco Werman talks with The World’s religion editor Jane Little about the fatwa. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Minhaj ul-Quran website
• Religion stories on The World
• Science Forum: how our unconscious brain controls political decisions

Egypt to ban full women’s veils

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Egypt’s highest Muslim authority has said he will issue a religious edict against the growing trend for full women’s veils, known as the niqab. The practice is widely associated with more radical trends of Islam. Reporter Aya Batrawy has the story. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• The niqab in Islam