Search
Share & Follow Religion News Blog
Remember These Stories?
Muslim radicals in Britain deliver ‘holy war’ warning
AFP, Aug. 14, 2002
http://www.arabia.com/afp/news/mideast/article/english/0,10846,265984,00.html
LONDON (AFP) – Radical Islamic leaders in Britain have issued what a British newspaper described as a thinly veiled threat that the US and Britain may face terrorist attacks similar to those of September 11 if they go to war against Iraq.
Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, a preacher from north London, told Wednesday’s Daily Telegraph he and other radicals would issue a religious edict telling Muslims how to respond to the “evil” of an attack on the regime of Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
[...]
“I believe September 11 was a direct response to the evil American policy in the Muslim world,” said Omar Bakri. “We do not want another event like this in the West.
“If there is an attack by the British government against Muslims abroad, then Muslims abroad have the right to retaliate and defend themselves.
“We are giving sincere advice to the British government and the British public so they understand the consequences of playing with fire.”
Britain is America’s closest military ally, and Washington is expected to call on London’s help in any US-led attack on Iraq.
The Telegraph said Bakri was due to give a press conference Thursday along with several other radicals, some of whom have been accused of links with Osama bin Laden, accused of masterminding the September 11 suicide airliner attacks on New York and Washington, and with his al-Qaeda network.
A press release announcing the meeting at a London hotel said they would “give the uncompromising Islamic stance on the US crusade against Muslims in general and Iraq in particular”, according to the Telegraph.
The press handout described Saddam as the “child of Satan”, but any Western attempt to remove him by force was regarded as a new aggression against Muslims.
“If the US and UK continue to play with fire there can only be one consequence, which is for them to burn their hands and to choke on the smoke (September 11 being an example).”
Bakri told the Telegraph that Muslims in Britain, under a “covenant” to respect British laws, were not permitted to carry out terrorist attacks.
But by his interpretation of Islam, “Muslims abroad” would not have to respect such restrictions, and would be allowed to use any means to retaliate, according to the Telegraph.
Muhammad al-Masari, a Saudi opposition leader living in exile in London, told the paper that even without a war in Iraq, Muslims abroad would already be justified in carrying out attacks against America or Britain.
“On a religious and moral basis, it was settled long ago. Retaliation is justified by the embargo against Iraq and the destruction of the Iraqi civilian infrastructure.
“If there is a further attack against Iraq, it will become even more evident.”
Bookmark, Share, or Email This Page
Read Another Article
|
Related News Articles
Topic(s): 
Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates
Find Related Information
Find Related 
Possibly related... or Most Popular Religion News Articles
Search Religion News Blog