Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi

Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi Shaheed, , (16 February 1948 – 12 June 2009) was a Sunni Islamic cleric from Pakistan who was well known for his moderate and anti-terrorist views. He was killed in a suicide bombing in Jamia Naeemia Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan on 12 June 2009, after publicly denouncing the Tehrik-i-Taliban's terrorist actions and ideologies as unislamic.

Life Sarfraz Ahmed Naeemi, son of , was born on 16 February 1948. His ancestors had migrated to Pakistan from Moradabad in India. He had a reputation of being one of the most progressive clerics in Pakistan. He knew Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages well and wrote columns in newspapers on religious issues and was the editor of monthly Arafat, Lahore. He had also passed a fatwā denouncing suicide bombings, as well as criticising Taliban leader Sufi Muhammad by saying he "should wear bangles if he is hiding like a woman". Naeemi had said "Those who commit suicide attacks for attaining paradise will go to hell, as they kill many innocent people". According to Khalid Zaheer, a Pakistani professor and religious scholar "His argument was simple: Religion does not stand for violence. You can't take the life of any individual, or your own life. And you can't wage jihad against your own state."

He was known for his stance on global Muslim issues like victimisation and suppression of Muslim movements and invasions on Muslim countries. He raised his voice against Pervez Musharraf's decision to provide logistic support to US-led coalition in the war on terror for which he was first removed from his job as Khateeb in the government-run Auqaf Department and then arrested briefly. Naeemi frequently argued that American, Israeli and Indian Intelligence Agencies were supporting the Taliban in order to destabilise Pakistan and seize control of its nuclear arsenal.

Assassination For making these statements, he had received death threats. He had refused police protection. On the day of his death he was greeting visitors in his office after Friday prayers when the suicide bomber managed to get inside and detonate himself at around 3 pm. According to witnesses the attacker was clean shaven, about 18–20 years old & appeared to be from southern part of Punjab province. According to provincial police chief Tariq Saleem Dogar, "Sarfraz Naeemi was seriously injured and shifted to hospital where he passed away". Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the attack. He was buried the following day among anti-Taliban chants of his followers.

Aftermath Shortly after the blast, hundreds of mourners gathered at the mosque and chanted "Death to Taliban".

Reaction The killing of Sarfraz Naeemi was strongly condemned by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani. Imran Khan chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party also condemned the killing. The French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner condemned the killing calling Naeemi "a well-known Sunni cleric who was respected for his moderate views on Islam". In a late night broadcast to the nation President Asif Ali Zardari singled out the killing of Naeemi and condemned it calling Taliban brutal and out to destroy Pakistan. On 14 June United States drones struck the stronghold of Baitullah Mehsud in apparent retaliation for this and other recent attacks. The Pakistani military also launched air strikes against Taliban in response to this and other recent attacks.