This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24057725

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Somali Islamic scholars denounce al-Shabab in fatwa Somali Islamic scholars denounce al-Shabab in fatwa
(about 1 hour later)
Some 160 Somali religious scholars have issued a fatwa denouncing al-Shabab, saying the group had no place in Islam.Some 160 Somali religious scholars have issued a fatwa denouncing al-Shabab, saying the group had no place in Islam.
Correspondents say it is the first time Somali religious leaders have come up with a fatwa against the group, which controls many rural areas.Correspondents say it is the first time Somali religious leaders have come up with a fatwa against the group, which controls many rural areas.
At a conference on the phenomenon of extremism in Mogadishu, the scholars said it condemned al-Shabab's use of violence. At a conference on the phenomenon of extremism in Mogadishu, the scholars said they condemned al-Shabab's use of violence.
Al-Shabab, or "The Youth", is fighting to create an Islamic state in Somalia.Al-Shabab, or "The Youth", is fighting to create an Islamic state in Somalia.
Despite being pushed out of key cities in the past two years, it still remains in control of smaller towns and large swathes of the countryside.Despite being pushed out of key cities in the past two years, it still remains in control of smaller towns and large swathes of the countryside.
'No legitimate reason' The announcement comes as residents of central Somalia say al-Shabab executed a young man in the town of Bula Burte and performed a double amputation on another in front of a crowd of several hundred people.
Meanwhile, residents of central Somalia say al-Shabab has executed a young man in the town of Bula Burte and performed a double amputation on another in front of a crowd of several hundred people. 'Wrong path'
One of the aims of the conference was to issue Islamic opinion on whether the group had legitimacy or not, with the final fatwa concluding that it is not an Islamic movement, Sheikh Hassan Jaamai told the BBC.One of the aims of the conference was to issue Islamic opinion on whether the group had legitimacy or not, with the final fatwa concluding that it is not an Islamic movement, Sheikh Hassan Jaamai told the BBC.
"It's like a gang that comes together to kill Somalis... without any legitimate reason or justification," added the Islamic scholar, who flew over from the US to take part in the conference."It's like a gang that comes together to kill Somalis... without any legitimate reason or justification," added the Islamic scholar, who flew over from the US to take part in the conference.
"The only thing they want is to create chaos in the country so that they can survive, " said another participant from the Gulf, Sheikh Abdikani, referring to bomb attacks on a restaurant in central Mogadishu that killed 15 people on the opening day of the conference. "The only thing they want is to create chaos in the country so that they can survive, " said another participant from the Gulf, Sheikh Abdikani, referring to bomb attacks on a restaurant in central Mogadishu that killed 15 people on the opening day of the meeting.
Al-Shabab said it carried out the attacks.Al-Shabab said it carried out the attacks.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud opened the government-organised conference that drew Somali scholars, elders and imams from both within the country and abroad.Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud opened the government-organised conference that drew Somali scholars, elders and imams from both within the country and abroad.
He took office a year ago in a UN-backed bid to end two decades of violence, with clan-based warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all battling for control of the country. At the end of the four-day conference, the seven points of the religious edit were read out by Islamic scholar Sheikh Abdirizak Ahmed Mohamud:
Last week, al-Shabab used Twitter to claim it had ambushed the president's convoy. • "Al-Shabab has strayed from the correct path of Islam, leading the Somali people onto the wrong path. The ideology they are spreading is a danger to the Islamic religion and the existence of the Somali society.
But President Mohamud's office played down the incident, saying he was unharmed, as the device exploded some distance away from the convoy. • "The Somali government is an Islamic administration; it is forbidden to fight against it or regard its members as infidels.
The al-Qaeda-linked group has now had its Twitter account suspended. • "Al-Shabab, an extremist group, must atone to God and must cease its erroneous ideology and criminal actions.
• "It is forbidden to join, sympathise or give any kind of support to al-Shabab.
• "It is a religious duty to refuse shelter to al-Shabab members, who must be handed over to Somali institutions responsible for security.
• "It is a taboo to negotiate on behalf of al-Shabab members in custody or release them from jail.
• "Somali officials have a religious duty to protect the Somali people from the atrocities of al-Shabab. The Somali public also has an obligation to assist the government in its security operations against al-Shabab."
President Mohamud took office a year ago in a UN-backed bid to end two decades of violence, with clan-based warlords, Islamist militants and its neighbours all battling for control of the country.