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political islam 465ars, the more politics will become undemocratic, authoritarian,and in flagrant violation of international law and universal humanrights.17. Isl§m and its three basic pillars exist for all people in this world.What Sårat al-An#§m prescribes are general human values thatare applicable to everyone (e.g., the prohibition of usury and themaȧrim marriage rules). It implies that all must adhere to them—including secularists and liberalists—but, most importantly, politiciansof whatever country. The ethical and moral values ofal-isl§m should influence the legal and political sphere of a society,but they should not force religion into politics, in the sense thatstate and government rule in favour of just one religious communityand discriminate against others. Religious rituals shouldremain untouched by human legislation, inasmuch as the state’sconcern for the material (this-worldly) welfare of its citizens shouldnot be affected by the theological aspirations of one specific religiousgroup. Even if all of a political party’s followers are devoutreligionists, this party should not just promote the interests of onespecific Êm§n, but must care for the interests of all people, basedon the ideals of isl§m.18. It is morally, theologically, and intellectually dishonest to declaresuicide missions to be part of istishh§d, promising young men andwomen the status of a shahÊd. No one but God is allowed to takelife. Suicide bombings are against all rules of military combat andcompetition that requires the existence of two opposing sides. Itis the task of humankind to prolong life, not to shorten it by whateverfeeble justification. The real act of istishh§d does not takeplace on the battlefield but in the courtrooms of civil magistratesand in police stations where statements of (living) witnesses aregiven. Suicide missions are merely imitations of the Japanesekamikaze pilots who crashed to their deaths. This is alien to anythingthat al-isl§m stands for. Isl§m is a religion of life, not ofdeath.19. Our honourable scholars are spreading a mentality of conformismwhich persuades the masses to do what they are told by theirreligious leaders. They do not want to hear critical questions fromtheir followers and prefer their brains to be completely switchedoff. They encourage the proliferation of the herd instinct whichmakes people feel insecure when they are not cuddled into thewarmth of group conformity. People behave like sheep who hurry