Bin Laden Calls on Pakistan Muslims to Launch Armed Struggle Against Regime
On September 20, 2007, the Islamist website ekhlaas.org, hosted by Layered Technologies Inc. in Texas, USA, posted a 24-minute video featuring a new address by Osama bin Laden. The video, which was produced by Al-Qaeda's media company Al-Sahab and is subtitled in English, shows old footage of bin Laden and of various Muslim clerics, while bin Laden's address is heard in the background.
The topic of the address is Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, whom bin Laden accuses of treason, of serving American interests, and of harming the interests of Islam. Bin Laden calls upon Pakistanis to launch an armed struggle against their president to "eliminate him," saying that this is what Islam commands regarding apostate leaders. He also calls on Muslim soldiers to desert from the Pakistani army, stating that this army, and the Pakistani state, are "enemies of the Muslim nation." Lastly, bin Laden swears on behalf of Al-Qaeda to avenge the deaths of the mujahideen, including that of Sheikh 'Abd Al-Rashid Ghazi.
Following are excerpts from the recording:
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"Pervez [Musharraf's] storming of the Red Mosque in Islamabad was a saddening incident... which revealed his determination to continue [serving as] a loyal and obedient supporter of America against the Muslims... We must [therefore] launch an armed [struggle] against him and eliminate him... Shari'a commands [us] to kill apostate leaders, and a Muslim must not question the commands of Allah... If we possess the ability, we are obligated to come out against an apostate leader, and that is the situation [today]. Those who think that we do not yet possess the power to come out [against Musharraf] must gain [this power], and then must launch an armed [struggle] against Pervez [Musharraf] and his army without further delay...
"War for the sake of Allah is a commandment based on [the principle of] sacrificing one's life... The Muslims in Pakistan must wage war and jihad in order to eliminate Pervez [Musharraf], his government, his army, and [all those] who assisted him. They must pledge allegiance to an Amir who will command them, and take it upon himself to implement Allah's Shari'a... Know that when jihad becomes an individual commandment incumbent upon every Muslim, as it is today, there are only two options...: either [to wage] jihad for the sake of Allah, which is the Prophet's way... or to avoid [waging jihad], which is the way of sinners and hypocrites...
"The [decision] of the [Pakistani] authorities to broadcast the image of Maulana 'Abd Al-Rashid disguised as a woman is clear proof of the hatred and contempt felt by Pervez [Musharraf] and by his government for Islam and for the faithful Muslim scholars. It is a grievous heresy that removes [the one who commits it] from the fold [of Islam]... We will take revenge against Pervez and against those who helped him for killing 'Abd Al-Rashid Ghazi and his men, just as we will avenge the pure blood of all [the Muslims], and especially that of the heroes of Islam in Waziristan... As long as we live and breathe, the blood of Muslim scholars and of the leaders of Islam and their descendents will not remain undefended."
