After deadly bombings in Britain and other nations, American Muslim scholars issued an edict yesterday condemning religious extremism and calling terrorists "criminals, not 'martyrs.' "

The 18-member Fiqh Council of North America said Muslims were barred from helping "any individual or group that is involved in any act of terrorism or violence."

"There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism," the scholars wrote in the edict, called a fatwa. "Targeting civilians' life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attack is haram — or forbidden."

Many Muslim leaders overseas have made similar statements in recent weeks, but one group of British Muslim leaders who denounced the July 7 attacks in London said suicide bombings could still be justified against an occupying power — drawing criticism that it incited violence in Iraq, where civilians along with coalition troops have been killed.

However, the U.S. scholars said in a Washington news conference that their prohibition applied to attacks on civilians everywhere. Their fatwa states that Muslims are obligated to help law-enforcement authorities "protect the lives of all civilians."

Islam has no central authority. The council serves an advisory role for American Muslims.