Son of Fatwa? What Fatwa?

The Washington Post has made recurrent references to a fatwa–an Islamic religious decree–in which Iran’s “Supreme Leader,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei purportedly ordained that the faith bars Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. U.S.-led negotiations with Iran over the latter’s suspected illegal nuclear weapons program make the fatwa’s existence, or non-existence, newsworthy.

When the newspaper repeated the fatwa claim recently CAMERA submitted the letter to the editor reproduced below. It appeared, slightly edited, in the June 27, 2015 print edition under the headline “Recalling the Fact Checker’s Iran advice.”

“The Post’s ‘Kerry hints at possible compromise in Iran nuclear talks’ (June 17, 2015), claims that in 2003 a fatwa, or religious decree, was ‘issued by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that, according to some interpretations, banned the production and use of nuclear weapons as a sin under Islam.’ However, as CAMERA and others have noted, there is no written proof that such a religious edict exists (‘Fatwa? What Fatwa? Does Ayaltollah Khamenei’s Edict Exist?’ Apr. 30, 2015,).

“A 2011 report by Shiite theologian Mehdi Khalaji and Michael Eisenstadt of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy notes that religious edicts in the Islamic Republic are ‘grounded not in Islamic law but rather in the regime’s doctrine of expediency, as interpreted by the Supreme Leader….if the Islamic Republic’s leaders believe that developing, stockpiling, or using nuclear weapons is in its interests, then religious considerations will not constrain these actions’ (‘Nuclear Fatwa: Religion and Politics in Iran’s Proliferation Strategy,’ September, 2011, Washington Institute for Near East Policy).

“In fact, The Post previously cited this report—and explored the issue of a ‘nuclear fatwa’—in Glenn Kessler’s ‘Fact Checker’ feature (‘Did Iran’s supreme leader issue a fatwa against the development of nuclear weapons?’ Nov. 27, 2013). This item cautioned, ‘U.S. officials should be careful about saying the fatwa prohibits the development of nuclear weapons, as that is not especially clear anymore.’

“Has The Post changed its mind regarding its own advice? Or was ‘Fact Checker’ advice meant for U.S. officials and not the paper’s own journalists? If Ayatollah Khamenei indeed issued a fatwa against creating, stockpiling, and using nuclear weapons, The Post usefully should translate and print it as a sidebar to its next article on the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States and other participating countries.”

Sincerely,
Sean Durns
Media Assistant
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America