I refer to the letter Suicide bombing must be stopped now . For your readers’ information, suicide-bombing has been declared permissible under certain extreme circumstances by the prominent Islamic scholar Yusuf Al-Qaradawi.

I personally consider the harsh criticism of the use of suicide-bombing as selective moralisation. The killing of innocent civilians is forbidden by all religions whether Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism and Hinduism.

If suicide-bombing involves the murder of innocent women and children, it is without doubt prohibited. However, if it is directed at enemy combatants who have invaded your habitat (noble sanctuary) and are massacring your people (family, relatives and friends), then surely the use of suicide bombing is justifiable.

I agree with the writer that the slaughtering of civilians is abhorrent and wicked. There is no justification for the killing of civilians when done by evil terrorists who smuggle explosives on board an aircraft with the intention of blowing it up.

However, equal repulsion must be shown towards evil, modern armies using jet fighters, helicopters, tanks and artillery shells against civilians.

While the morality of suicide-bombing is debatable, there is one element of war that requires no debate. It is the use of landmines and cluster bombs. There is no question that such weapons are strictly forbidden in Islam because they are indiscriminate.

They kill whoever that comes into contact with such devices including children and disabled people. Yet sadly, despite the fact that the use of such weapons are against the teachings of Islam, 16 Muslim countries have still refused to sign and ratify the Mine Ban Treaty.