Al-Qaeda calls for holy war in Mauritania
2008-08-12
In the wake of Mauritania's post-coup political instability, al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb is calling for a holy war and Islamic rule, Reuters reported on Tuesday (August 12th).
Abdelmalek Droukdel, leader of al-Qaeda's North African branch, posted a statement on the internet saying, "Raise the banner of jihad and let us bleed and have our limbs severed until we bring back a caliphate styled along the lines of the Prophet's way," Reuters reported.
On Sunday, Mauritania's new leader General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz expressed his determination to crack down on terrorist activity. When asked about his plan for dealing with al-Qaeda, Abdel Aziz was quoted by Reuters as saying, "We will do what we did in the past ... we fought with positive results. Whenever we find them, we will arrest them and bring them to justice."
In other news, Mauritania's new ruling council released former Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed El Waghef Monday (August 11th) in Nouakchott, where he had been held since President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi was overthrown in a military coup last Wednesday, local and international press reported. Former Interior Minister Mohamed Ould Rzeizi, National Agency for Refugees Director Moussa Fall and ruling PNDD party vice-president Ahmed Ould Sidi Baba were also freed by the newly-formed "High State Council." Immediately after his release, El Waghef led a rally attended by about one thousand supporters of the former president.
President Abdellahi remains detained, Mauritanian news agency ANI reported. He is reportedly being held in a villa on the grounds of the Nouakchott congress centre, AFP said.
Representatives from the Arab League, the EU, the African Union, the UN and ambassadors from France, Germany, Spain, the UN, and the United States have met with coup leader and High Council chief General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz. On Monday, the French government demanded Abdellahi's release and said it would freeze development aid. Washington has also suspended non-humanitarian funding.
Also Monday, the director of the Mauritanian Information Agency (AMI) was dismissed.
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Mohamed EL BAKI Posted 2008-08-13
Well… um… the call to jihad! The ONLY WAR, the SOLE JIHAD we should be making is one that struggles against: illiteracy, poverty, racism and all forms of social and ethnic exclusion and against drought. Building factories and businesses, providing education, better preparing our children to pursue and education—that is jihad! Ensuring the Maghreb for every male and female citizen, ensuring jobs, social security, health, housing—that is jihad! Promoting the freedom of expression on the radio and television and in the written press—that is jihad! Guaranteeing individual rights, democracy, justice and social progress—that is indeed jihad! Think about jihad in the name of all men and women!
صالح مجدول القادري Posted 2008-08-16
In the name of God the most gracious the most merciful. “We sent you as a mercy to all the people”. Islam is the religion of tolerance, advice, good attitude, call for good deeds and denial of evil deeds. God the Almighty said in His holy book, “Oh people we created you from a male and female, we made you people and tribes to know each other. The most honourable for God are the most pious”, God says the truth. Terrorists don’t belong to Islam in any way. They must be fought and eliminated. God the Almighty says “Do not kill yourselves, God was merciful to you”. These obscurantist killers who distorted Islam, the religion approved by God to His creatures. When were Muslims terrorists? God forbids. Our prophet calls us to respect every creature. One time, he was sitting with his companions while the funerals of a Jewish man passed by. Then the messenger of God, peace and prayer of God be upon him stood up. One companion said “Oh messenger of God, it is the funeral of a Jew”. The prophet of mercy replied “Is it not the soul of a human being?” What do these obscurants, dissidents from the orders of God, who sow fear and hatred instead of love and tolerance between people want? Who has given them the right to sow strife and killing? they pretend that they are fighting the tyrants. They are the tyrants. They have deviated from religion and the group. Let them go to hell! Authorities must fight them and eliminate them. They have distorted the Islamic religion. May God curse them and may the cursers curse them. When was Islam which was approved by God to all humanity, the religion which forbids injustice in all its forms, a religion which doesn’t discriminate between a black, white, Arab or foreigner except in piety? “Do not kill the soul forbidden by God except with a right”. You have spoilt Islam and Islam disowns you group of obscurantist. You have horrified the world, destroyed and sowed strife. Oh Lord take revenge on them. Oh Lord show us your revenge on them. Oh Lord break their power. They have made injustices in the lands. Those who believe their plots should know that they don’t support Islam. They are rather mistreating it. Islam disowns them as much as the wolf disowns the blood of the prophet of God Yusuf, peace be upon him. Oh Lord protect all your creatures from the evil of these obscurantists. Oh Lord disperse them and break their power.
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