Riyadh (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Financing terrorism is "prohibited by Islamic Sharia law" and therefore "a punishable crime." The Saudi Ulema Council of elders, representing the most influential religious leaders of the country, have defined as "prohibited" by Islamic law any act of terrorism. The Council, appointed by the government, has included "aiding or attempting to commit a terrorist act of any kind" as "a punishable crime."
The norm issued by the Ulema will dispel any doubt or misunderstanding about what "supporting terrorists" means and labels them as "sinners". Muslim experts in international politics, however, believe that the resolution is "a message to the West", to show that Saudi Arabia is committed to fighting terrorism. However, they stress that it is more of a smoke-screen than an effective measure to defeat the fundamentalist fringe.
In order to give greater weight to the resolution some passages from the Koran are quoted, which show the need to follow "piety and virtue" and condemn those who "helps others to sin." However, analysts believe that the fatwa will have little control "over those who finance terrorist groups.