[ExI] whose fatwa? what ruler?

[spike]

> ...On Behalf Of BillK
...
> 
> The 'opinion' appeared on an Iranian exiles website. i.e. not 
> an official Iran website.
> 
> Gharavian has since denied issuing the fatwa.
> 
> <http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=10676>
> 
> Looks like an anti-Iran smear to me.
> 
> BillK

Ja I wondered about this.  As far as I can tell, there is no central control
mechanism for fatwas, with no offical fatwa website*, no church bishop,
cardinal or other biggie required to sign off on them.  Anyone can issue one
at any time.  You and I can issue fatwas.  (Heyyy, cool.)  The problem is
that anyone can act on it as well.  If I utter a fatwa against [fill in your
favorite bad guy], I have no way of knowing some radical Presbyterian might
not carry it out fatally (perhaps while shouting jesus akbar) as she slew
some hapless prole.

spike

*Hey, that's an idea: set up a central website for fatwas, perhaps in a
spreadsheet format, with a column for who issued it, their standing in the
Presbyterian movement, the person or persons they want slain, the number and
quality of virgins to be rewarded, etc.