Jordanian Lawmakers Impose Limits on Fatwas

September 14, 2006

Source: Yahoo! News

Wire Service: AP

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060914/ap_on_re_mi_ea/jordan_religious_edicts

On September 14, 2006 the Associated Press reported, "Lawmakers have approved a measure that would only allow a state-appointed council to issue religious edicts, a move aimed at denying Islamic hard-liners a forum for disseminating extremist ideology. The proposal on 'fatwas,' Arabic for religious edicts, follows a pledge by Jordanian ruler King Abdullah II in the wake of [recent terror] attacks to tighten legislation to prevent radical viewpoints from taking root. It represents a setback for the Islamist opposition, which vehemently opposes the country's close ties with the United States and peace treaty with Israel. The measure, approved by the lower house of Parliament on Wednesday, will become law with the expected approval of the upper house of Parliament and the king. The proposed legislation would restrict fatwas only to a state-appointed council. Currently, the powerful Muslim Brotherhood movement and other smaller hard-line Islamic groups issue edicts."