Posted by
Gabrielle Cusumano on Sunday, October 01, 2006 3:13:56 PM
IRAQ: AL-QAEDA IN IRAQ'S NEW LEADER ISSUES MESSAGE
Baghdad, 28 Sept. (AKI) - The proclaimed heir to al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has urged his supporters to capture foreigners and use them as bargaining chips to free a Muslim cleric in the US. "I call on every holy fighter in Iraq to strive during this holy month (Ramadan)... to capture some dogs of the Christians so that we can liberate our imprisoned sheikh," said the speaker, identified as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, referring to sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman, in jail in the US since 1995 for the attack two years earlier on World Trade Centre.
In the message, the al-Qaeda leader called on the Iraqi Ulema and on tribal chiefs to join the insurgency.
The 20-minute long audio file - "Come to a Word that is Just Between Us and You" (Surah Imran, verse 64, the Koran) - was posted on Thursday to jihadi internet sites by the Mujahadeen Council, an umbrella group of eight Iraqi armed Salafite formations, including al-Qaeda in Iraq.
The message dates from the first day of Ramadan, 23 September, and besides threatening foreigners, it also seeks to win support from leading Sunni clerics ."We are your brothers, but you have left us" said al-Muhajir, addressing the Ulema Council.
'We are not apostates, we are just men who want to save the Islamic nation from ignorance."
"Today the struggle is harder and for this we are today asking you to join our path, we need you" the speaker said.
In November 2004, the former head of al-Qaeda in Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, accused the Ulema, or Muslim scholars, of having "betrayed the mujahadeen" (fighters in the Holy War) in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
The last part of the speech by Abu Hamza al-Muhajir is dedicated to the heads of the Sunni tribes in the restive al-Anbar province who on Wednesday met Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki announcing their support for the legitimately elected government of Baghdad.
"To the tribal leaders who are on our side and help us economically and with manpower I say Allah will reward you ...but to those who are with the traitors and the occupiers I saw that certainly you may earn money and important positions but the truth is with Allah. We ask them to return to their faiuth and they can do so only if they repent."
(Ham/Aki)
Adnkronous International
Sep-28-06 17:35
http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.345181510&par=0
Opinion:
I want to know why in all the reporting of this particular news item which I saw in print or heard via TV and radio from the Main Stream Media this weekend, why were the specific words of of the quote
"capture some dogs of the Christians so that we can liberate our imprisoned sheikh," not reported to the world and the American public?
Abu Hamza al-Muhajir is intending on capturing Christians (possibly also innocent Iraqi Christians) holding them hostage and most likely cutting their heads off, murdering them, because there will be no hostage swap for imprisoned sheikh Omar Abdul Rahman (mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing.
Is Abu Hamza al-Muhajir not inciting a Holy War between the religions, a war between Christians and Muslims by calling for these kidnappings to occur during the holy month of Ramadan. Where is there no outcry from Muslims around the world that this man does not speak for them and the religion of Islam, nor for all its people of faith. Where is the protesting and the cries from Christians around the world for an apology?
And where is the apology from the Islamist? Or do they all regard al-Muhajir as a renegade who should be allowed speak and lead thousands to do a secret bidding of ridding the world of Jews and Christians.
Why do I think they are under the delusion that there is justification in an "eye for an eye" and their "right makes might" or even vice versa.
But my most adamant question is: Why is this face of Islamic Fascism not being exposed to America and the Judadic-Christian world with the exact words he used to call upon the holy faithful of Islam to spead terrorism.
Why has the MSM been silent on this?