The Secretariat General of Senior Scholars Council pointed out that, in Islam, assault on sanctified lives is divinely prohibited and is one of the highest sins. Under no justification whatsoever is a sanctified life to be targeted, nor is it an occasion for rejoice when such a major sin is committed. And the privilege of this sanctity covers anyone who comes to Muslim lands under covenant; the Prophet (peace be upon him) is known to have warned: "he who abuses a covenanted person will never smell the fragrance of paradise". It is therefore prohibited to mistreat a covenanted member let alone killing him. This is indeed a serious warning for those who kill the covenanted; to have it as one reason for a ban from heaven makes it indeed one of the deadly sins. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Secretariat emphasized further, that the sin exceeds all limits should the assaulted be an envoy representing his country in the Muslim lands; for in Islam the safe-conduct of envoys is by far the strongest, and Muslim jurisprudence to safeguard diplomatic immunity is instituted on Islamic laws and teachings, derived fully from the Holy Quran, the Prophet's Tradition, and the consensus of the Muslim nation. These are strong and valid rules, appropriate for all times and places, issuing from the sanctity of life and the texts of all prophets that prohibit the killing of messengers as well as treachery, ensure the safety of the covenanted blood and assert the fulfillment of pacts. These are the ratified and legislated Islamic rules. The Secretariat further advised that, throughout Muslim countries, all media outlets should raise public awareness of the dangers of breaching diplomatic immunity, the serious consequences that follow, its infringement on Islamic Sharia' laws along with the privileges Islam ensures and grants, such as personal safety, maintenance of one's rights, high national interests and farewell and strength of international relations. These are the aims that Islam pursues.
