Muslim scholars call for global fatwa after US-Israeli strikes on Iran
Appeal made to leading Islamic institutions including Al-Azhar University as regional tensions escalate following US-Israeli strikes on Iran
By Abdullahi Yusuf
A group of Sunni Muslim scholars in Iran has called on leading Islamic institutions worldwide to issue a religious ruling, or fatwa, in response to what they describe as US and Israeli aggression against the country.
In a statement released on Thursday, the secretariat of Sunni religious seminaries urged prominent centres including Al-Azhar University, the World Assembly of Muslim Scholars and the Islamic Jurisprudence Foundation, to take a coordinated stance and mobilise religious opinion across the Muslim world.
The appeal follows claims by the scholars that recent US and Israeli military actions resulted in the killing of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, an assertion that has not been independently verified.
In their letter, the scholars described the attack as a violation of Iran’s sovereignty and a challenge to what they termed the collective dignity of the Muslim world. They called for unity among religious authorities in countries including Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Lebanon, Iraq and Algeria.
They said a unified religious response could help counter what they see as attempts to destabilise Muslim-majority countries and deepen divisions within the global Muslim community.
The statement also framed the issue in religious terms, arguing that Islamic teachings emphasise justice, the protection of the oppressed and the defence of shared values.
The appeal was issued on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, a period traditionally associated with reflection and solidarity among Muslims.
The broader context remains one of heightened regional tension. Fighting intensified after US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in late February, which Tehran says hit a range of sites across the country. Iran has since responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli-linked positions and US military facilities in the region.
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