Islamic Just War Theory and the Challenge of Sacred Space in Iraq.

What are the public relations implications of possible U.S. responses to the insurgent use of mosques? To the extent that defeating the insurgency in Iraq involves a successful appeal to Iraqi "hearts and minds", understanding public perceptions regarding just and unjust behavior in war provides a useful analytical tool. I am particularly interested in how the Hadith (oral traditions relating to the sayings and deeds of the Prophet Muhammad) and Muslim just war theory treat the implications of conflicts at sacred sites.I begin with a brief overview of the Islamic sources used in this paper to evaluate the just war implications of fighting in mosques. I then qualify my use of these sources by considering the challenges posed by a biased selection of sources, misrepresentation of these sources and the questionable relevance of these findings to the current situation in Iraq. In the third part of this paper, I briefly survey the empirical pattern of mosque use by insurgents in Iraq, the American response to this practice and the three challenges that this situation poses to just war theory. Each of these challenges is examined in turn in the three sections that follow: the limitations on the use of force within a sacred site; the protection of civilians in or near the mosque; and the requirements that the site itself be safeguarded from violence. I offer insights into the ethical implications of each scenario based on the relevant Muslim oral traditions and jurisprudence.To demonstrate the potential contribution of just war reasoning to the management of conflicts at sacred sites despite these challenges, I conclude the paper with an analysis of a significant historical precedent, the Saudi response to a hostage crisis in Islam's holiest shrine, the Grand Mosque of Mecca in 1979. This incident highlights the importance of cooperating with religious authorities who can interpret laws restricting conflict at sacred sites in a manner that is conducive to the successful conclusion of military operations. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]