Emir of Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb Promises Future Martyrdom Operations

In a video posted on Islamist websites on May 9, 2007 (but dated April 2007), the Emir of the Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb, Abu Mus'ab 'Abd Al-Wadoud, congratulated the Muslims of North Africa and the world on the establishment of his organization, which he said would bring true unity to the Muslims, after the Arab League and the Arab Maghreb Union had failed in doing so. He attacked these groups for taking sides with the Crusaders in various conflicts; he also derided Morocco for being more concerned with the Western Sahara than with liberating Ceuta and Melilla and "cleansing them of the impurity of Spain."

He promised that the mujahideen would continue to dedicate their lives to fighting the apostates, the Jews, and the Crusaders, and said that a strategic decision had been made to use, from now on, martyrdom-seeking (i.e. suicide) operations. 'Abd Al-Wadoud said that orders had been issued to all levels of command to open the door to volunteers who wished to carry out martyrdom operations, and said that the various commanders were to exercise independent judgment in planning and executing such operations.

'Abd Al-Wadoud said that the public announcement of the organization's new policy was meant to send three messages: 1) to warn the Muslims to stay away from the stations of the security forces, governmental offices, public officials, and places where foreigners are present, "whether these be diplomats, businessmen, or tourists"; 2) to warn foreigners not to have any contact with the apostate regime, as they will be considered enemies, and the mujahideen "will strive to target them, by any possible means"; 3) to warn the security forces and encourage them to go over to the side of the mujahideen.

He continued: "Where are those who desire reward? Where are those who long for Paradise?... Where are those who pledge to sacrifice their lives? Hurry, hurry! Do you not hear what your Prophet said: '… I want to raid for the sake of Allah and be killed, and then raid and be killed, and then raid and be killed.'

"We bring good tidings to our Islamic nation and to our youth:… Our list of martyrdom-seekers has become long, and every day it gets longer. The brothers who volunteer are competing with one another to open this great gate of combat. Do not miss [joining] the convoy, and hasten to Paradise…"

The video ends with 'Abd Al-Wadoud sending greetings to Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, Omar Al-Baghdadi, the mujahideen in Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya, and Somalia, and the brothers in the apostates' prisons. It is noteworthy that he did not send greetings to the mujahideen in Palestine.

The video can be viewed at http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ClipMediaID=838445&ak=null .

Below are images from the video.

Palestinian Organization Jaysh Al-Islam Takes Responsibility for Kidnapping British Journalist

On May 9, 2007, Islamist websites posted a 20-minute video titled "Liberate the Suffering" presenting a recorded message by the Palestinian organization Jaysh Al-Islam. The organization takes responsibility for the kidnapping of BBC correspondent in Gaza Alan Johnston, and demands the release of Muslim prisoners held in Britain, most notably Abu Qatada Al-Falastini. The recorded message is accompanied by photos of Abu Qatada and other prisoners (apparently Muslims imprisoned in the West) and of Alan Johnston's press card.

The following are the main points of the message:

The video begins with a Koranic verse dealing with the treatment of infidels: "So when you meet in battle those who disbelieve, then smite the necks until when you have overcome them, then make [them] prisoners, and afterwards either set them free as a favor or let them ransom [themselves] until the war terminates. That [is the ordinance]. And if Allah willed He could have punished them [without you], but [thus it is ordained] that He may try some of you by means of others. And those who are slain in the way of Allah, He rendereth not their actions vain [Koran 47:4]."

Next, the message evokes the struggle taking place between the infidels and the Muslims, and states that in light of the killing, the humiliation, the arrests, and the tortures suffered by Muslims everywhere at the hands of the "Crusaders," the Muslims "have no choice but to counter this cruel attack against the Muslim nation."

Responding to the claim made by some Palestinians that Alan Johnston is protected by the dhimma laws and that his arrest is therefore contrary to Islamic shari'a, the message quotes numerous religious sources, and concludes that the dhimma laws do not apply to British and American citizens, since these two countries have declared war on Islam in Afghanistan and Iraq, and their citizens, by their silence, have acquiesced. Consequently, the citizens of these countries have the status of combatants and must be treated as infidels who are fighting Islam – in other words, it is permissible to kill them. The message further argues that a non-Muslim is protected from harm only if he has received a guarantee from a legitimate Islamic authority, and Johnston has received no such guarantee.

The message then sets out the details of the organization's demands: "We demand that Britain release our prisoners, first and foremost Sheikh Abu Qatada Al-Falastini. [However], we are not forgetting our brothers the prisoners in other countries, and we say to all [these countries]: Release our prisoners, otherwise we will do the same to all of you [i.e. kidnap your citizens], without exception. If you want money for the release of our prisoners, we will ransom them, even to the very last penny we possess, as our Prophet commanded us [to do]..."

Lastly, the message addresses any Palestinians who are thinking of liberating Johnston by force, saying: "We have not declared war on you nor attacked you. What has Johnston to do with you? Does it bother you that we should use him to ransom the Muslim prisoners?... You should not shed the blood of [even] a single Muslim [to save] the life of an infidel, that is our advice to you..."

The video can be viewed at http://switch3.castup.net/cunet/gm.asp?ClipMediaID=838138&ak=null .

Below are images from the video.