Kolkata: A prominent Muslim cleric of the metropolis on April 4 issued a 'fatwa'
asking all Muslims to boycott American goods in protest against the US led war in
Iraq, as thousands offered funeral prayers for Iraqis killed.
Syed Mohammad Noorur Rahman Barkati, Imam of the Tipu Sultan mosque issued the
religious edict after Friday prayers.
The congregation offered Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayers) for Iraqis killed
in the attack on their country by the coalition forces.
Describing the White House as a 'slaughter house', and US President George Bush and
UK Premier Tony Blair as 'villains' Barkati termed the US led action against Baghdad
as,
'aggression' and urged all Asian countries to unite against the United States.
Barkati, however, said that people should not use force against anyone selling
American goods and should voluntarily refrain from using products of US companies.
Barkati's fatwa came two days after an outlet of an US based multinational footwear
company was vandalised by activists of a naxalite group in the metropolis.
He also condemned the recent killing of Kashmiri Pandits by Pakistan backed
militants.
PTI
