Senior Palestinian Judge Supports Suicide Terror Attacks
IDF Spokesperson 29 September 2002

On 28 September 2002, the Internet Website ISLAM ONLINE featured an
Online-Chat with Hamed Bittawi, one of the Palestinian Authority's senior
judges and religious sages, on the "Religious Edicts" segment of the
Website. In this forum, Hamed Bittawi gave his authorization for the
participation of women and children in suicide terror attacks, and said the
commandments of Jihad overrule the commandment of honoring one's parents.

The relevant quotations from the questions presented to Hamed Bittawi, as
well as his responses:

Q: "Are children allowed to participate in carrying out suicide terror
attacks?"

A: "According to a religious edict and [relying on] the words of Alla -
Youths and adults, Make haste. Fight the War of Jihad using your money and
[sacrificing] you souls for the way of Alla. The religious sages have
pointed out that men, women and children alike, should all follow this route
[of Jihad]. In the era of Muhamad the prophet, the participation of children
[who have not yet reached the age of maturity] was a well-known fact - yet
now we live in this existing reality in Palestine. We hold a great deal of
love towards Jihad and for the sacrifice of one's self in honor of Alla.
This situation has brought many children to compete amongst themselves
regarding the carrying out of the operations of Jihad and acts of suicide.
However, many of these acts and operations were unsuccessful, and especially
due to the anticipation and forecasting abilities of the enemy. Therefore,
the Islamic movement was forced to ask these children to wait patiently and
not carry out the suicide acts until they've completed their studies,
trained and learned to act diligently and with caution".

Q: "We would appreciate it if you could clarify your grounds concerning the
participation of women in suicide terror attacks".

A: "The religious sages have said that when the enemy occupies and conquers
a land belonging to Muslims, the Jihad becomes a commandment that must be
fulfilled by every Muslim - man or woman. A woman can carry out Jihad
without her husband's permission. The women in the era of Muhamad, the
prophet, used to take part in Jihad. Women throughout Palestine can
participate in a form of Jihad, including suicide terror attacks.

Several blessed women have already fulfilled their task. However, it is my
opinion that women should be patient because there is a very long queue of
men willing to carry out suicide terror attacks. Moreover, it is important
to point out that the Palestinian women have exhibited marvelous examples
[of willingness to participate] such as H'ansa [a woman who sent her four
sons to the battle of Kadisiya in the era of Muhamad the prophet, and is
idolized because of this in Islam]. The public has seen on their television
screens how mother sent her son to carry out Jihad, bids him farewell and
encourages him. Many mothers and women, after hearing their son was killed,
cry out exclamations of happiness and joy. We raise our heads up high in
honor of these women".

Q: "What is the verdict of those who do as their parents say, when they
insist that their son not-participate in the battle with the enemy?"

A: "Even those who carried out suicide missions in Palestine did not consult
with their fathers when they went on their way [to carry out Jihad]. When
Jihad is announced, it overrules the honor and duty one holds to one's
father, mother, children, wife and possessions".

Hamed Bittawi - background information

Date of birth: 4 December 1944.
Place of birth: the village of Bitta, south of Nablus.
Studied in the faculty of Islamic Religious Edicts at the Jordanian
University.

In 1968, after graduating from university, he was appointed as a clerk in
the "Shar'aim" court (ruling in accordance with Islamic Religious Edicts) in
the West Bank.

In 1991, he graduated and received second degree in the faculty of Islamic
Religious Edicts at the Al-Najah University in Nablus. When he lived in
Jordan, it was noticeable that his religious path was highly affected by the
senior religious sages of the Muslim brotherhood, including Fadel Ubas,
Ibrahim Zeid Alkilani, Ishak Farhan, Yosef Al'Azam etc. Hamed Bittawi was
also very highly influenced by the doctrine of Said Kotub and Yusuf Kardawi.

Hamed Bittawi climbed 'the ladder of success' in the Palestinian courts in
Nablus, until he was received the "Sharui" (judge) appointment.

After the Palestinian Authority was established in 1995, Hamed Bittawi was
appointed head of the appellate courts in Nablus, the same appointment he
maintains today.

In 1985 he was appointed Dep. Interpretation of Holy Scriptures in the
Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Since 1991 he has been the leader of the religious sages union.

Hamed Bittawi is considered an authority with regards to religious edicts
for the Hamas organization in Nablus. During the past two years, he has
taken a very central role in the activity of the Hamas organization, and he
has encouraged them to stick with the way of the Jihad and the carrying out
of suicide terror attacks against the State of Israel. He is a well-known
supporter of the suicide terror attacks and he preaches in favor of
directing terror against innocent Israeli civilians (which he justifies
religiously). Due to this, the Palestinian Authority did not condemn his
operations, did not go out against his radical perspectives and did not take
any measures against him whatsoever.

Photographs:

1. 8 June 2002, Hamed Bittawi holding a gun in an anti-Israeli and
anti-American demonstration.

http://www.idf.il/newsite/english/048-2.jpg

2. 22 February 2002, Hamed Bittawi holding an M-16 Sa'ar rifle in a
gathering of the Hamas organization in Nablus, held in memory of suicide
terrorists.
http://www.idf.il/newsite/english/048-1.jpg

article's source
http://www.islamonline.net/livefatwa/arabic/browse.asp?hguestid=kk99uz