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September 2, 2006
US: West Must Convert To Islam Or Suffer, Says Al Qaeda
News from various sources including CNN, the BBC, Reuters and Associated Press via Forbes states that a new videotape has been released by Al Qaeda.
The spokesman for Al Qaeda is once again Ayman al-Zawahiri the deputy leader of the group, a former eye surgeon from Egypt. Once again, Osama bin Laden has not appeared. The leader of the terror group made an audio announcement on June 30 but has not shown is face on a video for some time.
The videotape also features Adam Yahiye Gadahn a US convert, originally from Orange County in California, who is now Al Qaeda's propaganda director.
The message - entitled "An Invitation to Islam" - begins with a short appearance by Ayman al-Zawahiri telling viewers to listen to the message which follows. Al-Zawahiri states: "To the American people and the people of the West in general... God sent his Prophet Muhammad with guidance and the religion of truth... and sent him as a herald."
The bulk of the message is spoken by Gadahn, who recites verses from the Koran in Arabic, then translates them into English, and then says Muslims must increase their faith to expel their countries' rulers.
Gadahn (pictured above left) says: "Muslims don't need democracy to rid themselves of their home grown despots and tyrants. What they do need is their Islamic faith, the sprit of jihad and the lifting of foreign troops and interference from their necks." He states that God recognised no separation of religion and state, (a fundamental of democracy).
He stated: "To Americans and the rest of Christendom we say, either repent misguided ways and enter into the light of truth or keep your poison to yourself, but whatever you do don't attempt to spread you misery and misguidance to our lands."
Gadahn said that "ignorance" of Islam "causes the people of the West to rapturously applaud when Israel perpetrates wholesale slaughter of Muslims in Lebanon and Palestine."
At no point on the video do Gadahn and the mullah appear together. Zawahri appears against a black background. It appears that the statement by the al-Qaeda number two may be a stock piece of footage for announcements, such as those which introduced episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents.." on TV.
Ayman al-Zawahri last made a video appearance on August 5, in which he made the claim that the Egyptian group Gamaa Islamiya (also called Jamaa Islamiya or al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya) had signed up to join Al Qaeda. The claim was subsequently denied by the Gamaa Islamiya leadership, who have now abandoned violence officially.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at September 2, 2006 6:14 PM
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