Iran’s fatwa against Trump and Netanyahu: How serious is this threat?

A fatwa (powerful religious decree) has been issued by Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, one of Iran’s top Shiite clerics, naming United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as enemies of the Islamic community.

This fatwa — delivered following recent escalations between Iran, Israel and the United States — directly identifies both leaders as mohareb, or individuals who wage war against God.

The religious order explicitly calls on Muslims globally to confront those who “threaten the leadership and integrity of the Islamic Ummah.”

Under Iranian Islamic law, the designation of mohareb is a serious one, legally warranting harsh penalties that may include execution, crucifixion, amputation of limbs, or exile.

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“Those who threaten the leadership and integrity of the Islamic Ummah are to be considered warlords,” Makarem declared.

Further urging the faithful to act, the fatwa states that Muslims who endure hardships in their opposition to these leaders would be considered mujahid fi sabilillah — warriors in the path of God.

“May God protect the Islamic community from the evil of the enemies and hasten the reappearance of the Master of the Age and Time,” the ruling added, alluding to the Shiite messianic figure known as the Mahdi.

The fatwa arrives shortly after a period of armed conflict now being referred to as the “12-Day War.”

On June 13, Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian nuclear and military infrastructure, resulting in the deaths of prominent scientists and military commanders. In retaliation, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Israeli cities.

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The United States soon entered the conflict by striking three nuclear sites in Iran.

This conflict was the culmination of months of rising tensions, marked by repeated warnings from Trump himself that any move by Iran toward weapons-grade uranium enrichment would prompt US intervention.

What we know about fatwas

A fatwa, by definition, is a legal or theological ruling made by an Islamic scholar or authority. These decrees have historically spanned a wide spectrum — ranging from legal clarifications on ethical matters to highly politicised calls for violence.

While many fatwas are benign or even humanitarian in their focus, others have been used to justify violent acts against individuals seen as blasphemous or adversarial to Islam.

The case of Salman Rushdie remains the most well-known example in modern history. In 1989, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa condemning Rushdie to death following the publication of The Satanic Verses.

The decree, though non-binding in a legal sense, had life-altering consequences. Rushdie spent years in hiding and survived a near-fatal stabbing in 2022 — 33 years after the fatwa was first declared.

Despite Iran’s political shifts over the years, including the more moderate presidency of Mohammad Khatami in the late 1990s, that fatwa was never officially rescinded.

Religious decrees of this nature are not bound by time. There is no expiry. In the eyes of many believers, a fatwa from a revered authority is eternal and sacred.

In his post on X (formerly Twitter), British-Iranian commentator Niyak Ghorbani criticised the recent fatwa against Trump and Netanyahu, describing it as a calculated act of state-endorsed extremism.

⭕️Very Important:

This is not just a threat to Iranians — it’s a global danger.

A top Iranian cleric has issued a fatwa openly calling for violent jihad against Western leaders, not just Iranian dissidents. This is a clear act of state-backed incitement to international… https://t.co/wWOyCV4E5h pic.twitter.com/vLUNKCOcTX

— Niyak Ghorbani (نیاک) (@GhorbaniiNiyak) June 29, 2025

“The West must realise: the Islamic Republic is not only targeting its own people — it is preparing for global violence in the name of religion,” he wrote.

A history of fatwas inciting violence

The global implications of such fatwas are not theoretical. In many cases, they have resulted in violence, assassinations, and lasting fear.

In 1992, Egyptian intellectual Farag Fouda was shot dead by Islamist militants after being accused of apostasy. His assassination followed a fatwa from religious scholars labeling him an enemy of Islam.

Two years later, Egyptian Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz was stabbed in the neck by an extremist influenced by another fatwa.

Several Western figures have also been targeted. Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, who co-created a short film critical of the treatment of women in Islam, was murdered in Amsterdam in 2004.

He was shot and stabbed by a Dutch-Moroccan Islamist who reportedly acted in line with religious directives.

Dutch politician Geert Wilders received death threats after his statements on Muslim immigration led to a fatwa calling for his beheading, issued by Australian imam Feiz Muhammad in 2010.

In the United States, television host David Letterman became a target when a Muslim militant called for his assassination after he joked about the killing of an Al Qaeda figure on his show.

The creators of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, were similarly threatened after depicting the Prophet Mohammed — albeit in a bear suit — sparking outrage and warnings of violent retaliation.

Even religious figures outside Islam have been fatwa targets. Jerry Falwell, the American evangelical pastor, once described Prophet Mohammed as a terrorist in a 2002 interview. A fatwa for his death followed, though Falwell later died of natural causes.

Fatwas can also lead to mass political consequences. Al-Qaeda’s 1998 fatwa calling for jihad against Americans and Israelis followed the US embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.

That fatwa, signed by Osama bin Laden, justified its stance as a response to perceived Western aggression against Muslims.

Not just extremism: Fatwas can also be peaceful

While many fatwas attract attention due to their violent implications, others highlight peace, ethics, and coexistence. In 2005, a group of North American Islamic scholars issued a fatwa declaring all acts of terrorism forbidden in Islam.

They stated, “It is haram, forbidden, to cooperate or associate with … any act of terrorism or violence.” The fatwa also encouraged Muslims to work with law enforcement in protecting civilians.

Fatwas reflect the intentions and beliefs of the clerics issuing them, and their weight largely depends on the influence and credibility of those scholars among their followers.

In places like India, institutions such as the Darul Uloom in Deoband (Uttar Pradesh) issue thousands of fatwas each year. These rulings often address questions of daily life, ethics or personal conduct within an Islamic framework.

The Darul Uloom’s 12-volume fatwa compilation has even been compared to US Supreme Court proceedings in terms of its complexity and reach.

So how serious is the threat against Trump and Netanyahu?

Although fatwas are non-binding religious opinions, their danger lies in how they are interpreted and acted upon. Clerics with a vast audience can mobilise not only devout followers but also extremists willing to act violently.

In a world already polarised by ideology and religion, a fatwa from a prominent authority can be seen as a divine command.

As history has shown, even decades-old fatwas can incite violence long after their original context is forgotten. Rushdie’s near-fatal stabbing in 2022 serves as a chilling reminder.

It is not only sanctioned operatives that carry out such attacks — self-radicalised individuals, lone actors or religious vigilantes often act without state direction.

The fatwa from Ayatollah Makarem thus poses a long-term risk. While it may not lead to immediate action, it could inspire attacks in the years to come, carried out by individuals who believe they are fulfilling a religious duty.

With Makarem calling for Trump and Netanyahu to be made to “regret their words and mistakes,” the fatwa stops short of a direct death order, but the implications are clear to those familiar with such rhetoric.

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With inputs from agencies