Muslim scholar warns against Darfur conflict spreading

KHARTOUM, Sept 6 (AFP) — Muslim scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi has warned that the Darfur conflict will spread to other parts of Sudan if it is not snuffed out and that this would serve the interest of Islam’s foes, SUNA news agency said Monday.

Qaradawi was quoted as saying at a meeting of the North Darfur Consultative Council in the state capital of El Fasher that “the sedition which erupted in Darfur, if not extinguished, will spread to other parts of the country.”

“The fanning of this sedition serves the enemies of Islam because they want to check the expansion of Islam, through the Sudan gate, to the African countries,” he said.

The conflict should not have occurred among people “of one faith and one language,” said Qaradawi, adding that the solution “lies in unification of ranks and in making concessions by all parties — both rulers and ruled — for addressing the issue so that foreign hands will not have a chance for interference.”

He stressed that everyone should strive to remove the root causes of the conflict, be they political, tribal or greed for power or wealth.

Qaradawi said his visit with his companions to Sudan was to mend fences between the Sudanese parties and said reconciliation “is not impossible.”