Muslims Debate Forgiveness for Bombers

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By RAWYA RAGEH
Associated Press Writer

February 3, 2004, 3:27 PM EST


MECCA, Saudi Arabia -- Although the annual hajj is a time of erasing past sins, some pilgrims are finding it hard to forgive Islamic militants -- including suicide bombers -- for blackening their religion's image.

The pilgrimage comes as some militants and clerics in the Arab world have renounced their extremist stands in recent months. They embraced moderation in the wake of international and domestic pressure, especially since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.

While some pilgrims in this holy city said militants don't deserve forgiveness, many others maintained that forgiveness, like repentance, is crucial to eliminating extremism.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-hajj-forgiving-militants,0,159147.story