Increasingly, the moderate elements in Islam are coming to the front, arguing an anti-terror case.

Saudi Arabia’s highest religious authority issued a fatwa (edict) denouncing all acts of terrorism and criminalising its financing, Asharq al-Awsat daily reported today.

The Council of Supreme Scholars declared “any act of terrorism, including providing financial support to terrorists, a crime,” regardless of where it takes place, the London-based newspaper said.

According to the fatwa, the financier of acts of terrorism will be considered a “partner” in the crime, the newspaper said.

The council did not specify a penalty to the act of financing terrorism, leaving that decision for the Islamic courts to determine, the newspaper said.