Amsterdam, 21 September 2001

 Afghan Clerics will ask Bin Laden to leave 
 
The American government suspected immediately after the WTC attack Usama bin Laden as the mastermind behind it. Usama bin Laden is hiding out in Afghanistan, where he controls several terrorist training camps. 

The Americans asked the ruling Taliban fundamentalist regime of Afghanistan to extradite him. 

The day before the Bush speech in Congress thousand Clerics from all over Afghanistan gathered to meet in a Ulema on the issue.

In their verdict they condemned President Bush over his talking of a crusade. " This news has hurt the feelings of Muslims and has posed a major threat to the world" the verdict said.

To prevent any more tension they are willing to ask bin Laden to leave the country on his own account.

They also demand an investigation of the tragic event and they want proof of bin Laden's role in the attack.

The verdict is a recommendation to the top Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar. He has to decide to pass the request formally to bin Laden. 

The Ulema verdict also states that if America would attack Afghanistan it would call for a Jihad.

"All books of our religious persuasion say that if infidels attack the soil of a Muslim country, jihad (holy war) becomes an order for the Muslims of that country..." 

Calling for a Jihad means that it will be an obligation for all Muslims to defend the attacked Muslim state.

"If infidels invade an Islamic country and that country does not have the ability to defend itself, jihad becomes an obligation on all Muslims."

The verdict appears to be a compromise between the hardliners who want to go to war and the moderates who want to prevent an attack by the Americans. "We wanted to find a solution that would save our country and solve the problem of our guest." One of the Clerics said.

The White House immediately rejected the verdict

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer rejected the statement. He said that bin Laden and the other terrorists in the country must be handed over to "responsible authorities".

"It does not meet America's requirements ," Mr Fleischer said, "It is time for action , not words."