In an article published January 18, 2011 on his website (Abubaseer.bizland.com), prominent Salafi-jihadi cleric Abu Basir Al-Tartusi addresses the Tunisia events, expressing joy at the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and calling upon the Tunisians to establish an Islamic regime before their "revolutionary fire" dies out. He assesses that the revolution may spread to Syria, Egypt, Libya, and all the other corrupt and tyrannical "infidel regimes," and advises the Arab leaders to reconcile with their oppressed peoples before it is too late.
The following are the main points of the article:
Al-Tartusi calls Ben Ali "one of the greatest idol worshipers and leaders of heresy in the [Islamic] ummah," accusing him of fighting Islam and the Muslims, but states that, despite his efforts, Islam has remained firmly rooted in the hearts of the Tunisian people and has even grown, achieving triumph after triumph.
The sheikh adds that the secular parties in Tunisia had no part in the "blessed revolution" and "popular Islamic intifada," though, as is their custom, they will probably try to exploit it and take over the country at the expense of the blood and sacrifice of the Muslim Tunisian people.
Addressing the "tyrannical leaders and their helpers," he says: "Today there was [an uprising] in Tunisia. Tomorrow it will [happen] in the wounded [country of] Syria, the day after tomorrow in the hostage [country of] Egypt, and the day after that in Libya, which is enslaved by the infidel leader [Libyan ruler Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi] and his sons....
The full text of this post is available to subscribers.
Please login or register to request subscription information from MEMRI
