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On June 5, 2022, an unofficial pro-Al-Qaeda media organization released the English translation of a Bengali-language video titled "Punishment For Blasphemers Of The Prophet." The video is in response to recent remarks by two officials from India's ruling Hindu Nationalist party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in reference to Islam and Prophet Muhammad. It is also in line with Al-Qaeda top leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri's recent focus on the Kashmiri jihad, and his call on Muslims in the entire Indian Subcontinent to wage jihad.
'Hindus Are Preventing Muslims From Practicing Sharia'
The four-minute 10-second video opens with a Quran verse that reads: "Surely those who offend Allah and His Messenger are condemned by Allah in this world and the Hereafter. And He has prepared for them a humiliating punishment."
The video then shows several clips, saying: "The Hindu idolaters are engaged in a hateful game against Islam and Muslims." Subtitles in English further claim that the Hindus are "preventing Muslims from practicing the Ahqams [commandments] and Regulations of Islam, including Hijab, Prayer, and Qurbani! They are executing a terrible plan to wipe out Islam and Muslims from all over India," a series of on-screen captions read.
BJP Spokeswoman Nupur Sharma Is "Worm Of Hell"
The video highlighted a footage documenting the remarks made by BJP's Spokesperson Nupur Sharma during a TV talk show, describing her as the "worm of hell," and accusing her of blaspheming against Prophet Muhammad.
'Avenge The Prophet'
Promoting attacks against Hindus, the video featured several audio recordings by slain Al-Qaeda leaders inciting Muslims to avenge the prophet's honor following similar incidents that they perceived as insulting to Islam, such as Charlie Hebdo cartoons.
For example, the video highlighted an archival audio recording by slain top Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden warning Western democracies that a freedom of speech that entitles insulting sacred Islamic symbols will be met with violent reaction by the group and Muslims. "We will perish if we do not protect the honor of the Prophet," he said.
Another recording reminded the viewers of Al-Qaeda top leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri's message, telling Muslims to avenge their Prophet following the publication of cartoons perceived by many to be insulting to Islam by the French-language comic weekly Charlie Hebdo. "Oh Muslims, where is your anger? Where is your dignity and where is your spirit of faith against the disgrace of your Prophet and religion, and faith?" he said. It is worth noting that in an April 2022 video, Al-Zawahiri called on Muslims in the Indian subcontinent to fight the perceived assault on Islam "intellectually, using the media and with weapons on the battlefield." He showered praise on Muskan Khan, a female student who shouted Allah-hu-Akbar after being heckled by a right-wing Hindu mob.[2]
The video also played an audio recording by Harith Al-Nazari, the former sharia official of the Al-Qaeda affiliate in Yemen, saying that "insulting the Prophet is unforgiveable crime."
A fourth audio recording aimed this time at the group's supporters in the Indian Subcontinent, highlighted a message by Asim Umar, the slain leader of Al-Qaeda In The Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), in which he called on Muslims to carry out suicide attacks targeting "blasphemers living in France and America," to avenge the Prophet's honor.
The video also included an audio recording by slain deputy AQIS leader Ustad Ahmad Farooq inciting Muslims to kill blasphemers such as Ahmed Rajib Haider, a secular blogger whom AQIS members killed on February 15, 2013, in Dhaka.
The video concluded with a call to Muslims in the Indian Subcontinent to "wake up and prepare for Ghazwatul Hind [the Conquest of India]," and instructing them to "find the blasphemers of the Prophet and kill them."
[1] See MEMRI JTTM report, In Proof Of Life, Al-Qaeda Leader Al-Zawahiri Appears In Video Commenting On February 2022 Incident Against Hijabi Muslim Woman In India, April 5, 2022.
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