Radical Islamists linked to al-Qaida have broken down the door to a 15th-century mosque in Timbuktu that locals believed had to stay shut until the end of the world, defying international calls to halt the destruction of holy sites in the Unesco-listed city.

In a third day of attacks on historic and religious landmarks that Unesco has called “wanton destruction”, the Islamists targeted the ancient Sidi Yahya mosque as they tried to erase traces of what they regard as un-Islamic idolatry.

Islamists of the Ansar Dine group claim the centuries-old shrines of the local Sufi version of Islam in Timbuktu are idolatrous. They have so far destroyed at least eight of 16 listed mausoleums in the city in northern Mali, together with a number of tombs.

Ansar Dine and well-armed allies, including al-Qaida splinter group Mujwa, have hijacked a separatist uprising by local Tuareg MNLA rebels to control two-thirds of Mali’s desert north, territory that includes the regions of Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu.

The size of the area under their control is bigger than France, heightening fears that Mali will become a jihadist haven.   »»» guardian.co.uk

The Ansar Dine radicals are violating fundamental principles of Islam. Like Christian Iconoclasts and Puritans of the past, they are ready to destroy to enforce their point of view. This is not Islamic behaviour. Under traditional shari’ah law, their actions are examples of “fitna” (insurrection, crimes against public order) and they would be punished severely.

King Muhammad VI of Morocco has publicly called for an international Islamic ‘peacekeeping’ force to be deployed to stop the destruction, which has been headline news in the Moroccan media. Sadly, there is probably not enough time to do anything. The Mali government, whose army was defeated in recent battles with the Ansar Dine is powerless to act.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) said, “Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings and the nights.” (related in Sahih Bukhari ).

He also said, “Beware of extremism in religion because the only thing that destroyed those before you was extremism in religion.” (related by Ibn Majah and Nasai).

Go to article…