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In Defence of the Mujahideen
In the Name of Allah the Most Merciful the Most Kind
All Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, who calms the hearts of the believers from what torments them and leads them to what benefits them. Peace and blessings be upon the Unlettered Prophet (SAWS), the leader of the Mujahideen, upon his family, his Companions and all those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection.
"And as for those who make Jihad in Our Path, We shall surely guide them to Our Ways. And indeed Allah is with those who do good." [Quran 29:69]
"O you who believe, if an evil-doer comes to you with news, verify it lest you harm people in ignorance, and afterwards you become regretful for what you have done." [Quran 49:6]
In May 2002, a web-site was launched - www.jihadunspun.com, with the slogan to provide 'A Clear View of the US War on Terrorism'. The web-site looks professional with slick graphics, and gives the impression that it is a news source about Jihad and the Mujahideen.
During the last few months, we have given mixed signals to the public on our opinion of this site and the purpose of this statement is to clarify our position on this site. Since we were the ones who initially informed the public about this site, we owe it to the public to inform them of our reservations on it, following recent events. The timing of this statement comes after two attacks from JUS on our credibility: the first one indirect and the second being a direct attack. Initially, we saw the matter as an oversight on JUS's part and gave them the benefit of the doubt. Following the second and other statements, we had no choice but to issue one statement to end this matter once and for all, in defence of the Mujahideen, so that we absolve ourselves of responsibility before Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
By issuing this statement, we remind those Muslims who may be disheartened by thinking that 'Jihad sites are fighting amongst themselves', that this is not a case of Muslim infighting, but a case of informed Muslim sources advising their fellow Muslims of new plots and schemes doctored by non-Muslim Western Intelligence agencies in order to discredit the Mujahideen and weaken support for them amongst the masses. We also advise the naive Muslims that this is not a case of a few mistakes being made which should be overlooked, but evil plans by the enemies of Islam and the Muslims, being supported by brains and money.
The first indirect attack made by JUS on our credibility was concerning the capture of alleged Al-Qaida operative, Ramzi bin Al-Sheebah, in Karachi in September 2002. On 17 September 2002, we issued a news item confirming the arrest of Ramzi bin Al-Sheebah despite contrary claims on the Jehad Online web-site. A few days later, JUS published a news feature citing various 'sources' to claim that Ramzi bin Al-Sheebah was NOT in fact captured. We considered this an indirect attack on our credibility, but at the time decided not to say anything, thinking it was just an oversight on their behalf.
The second and more recent direct attack made by JUS on our credibility was concerning the recent letter that Usama Bin Laden wrote in response to some claims made against him and Al-Qaida in the American press. We published the English version of this letter as an exclusive letter (the Arabic version has not yet been released), but in a news item dated 28 October 2002 titled: A Letter from Osama Bin Laden in Reply to the American Press?, JUS directly attacked Azzam, and its credibility with respect to its judgement on its association with the web-site, Waaqiah.com. JUS further cast doubts on the authenticity of this letter citing what they perceived to be logical reasons.
Following this second, direct attack on our credibility and integrity, and JUS's statement that Waaqiah.Com is now the home of Britain's controversial Azzam Publications, which has led to our Azzam.com domain being taken down by authorities following this statement (it remains down as this statement goes to press), we had no choice but to issue a statement and warn the Muslims about what Jihadunspun is really about.
About Azzam Publications
To begin with, we would like to introduce Azzam Publications to those who are new to it. Azzam Publications is an independent media organisation, established in 1996, that has been providing authentic news and information about Jihad and the Mujahideen everywhere, from a network of informed correspondents on the ground in troubled hotspots.
Azzam Publications is not a news agency that collects together material from other media organisations, but a news source in itself.
From 1999-2001, through it's web-site on the Jihad in Chechnya, Qoqaz.net, Azzam provided authentic news, interviews, photographs and statements on the Jihad in Chechnya. Qoqaz.net was even used by non-Muslim news agencies during this part of the war, to provide information from the side of the Mujahideen.
This news was provided by Azzam's correspondents on the ground, one of whom was killed in the year 2000 defending himself from an ambush at a Russian checkpoint, Shaheed Masood Al-Benin: his biography, photographs and account of how he was killed, was published on Qoqaz.net and mirror locations on the Internet still carry his story. Any of the Mujahideen High Command in Chechnya today can confirm the efforts of Shaheed Masood Al-Benin in providing authentic news about the Jihad in Chechnya, to the World.
In the Year 2000, one of Azzam's videos that was released, and continues to be sold by Maktabah Al-Ansaar Bookstore, was The Martyrs of Bosnia, Part 1. The end of this video contains a previously-recorded statement, in video, of Foreign Mujahideen Commander in Chechnya, Shaheed Khattab, confirming by name the efforts of Azzam Publications in providing authentic news about events concerning the Mujahideen in Chechnya.
Since November 2001, Azzam.com has been providing authentic news, information, interviews and statements about the current Jihad in Afghanistan, from sources and correspondents on the ground inside Afghanistan. Another one of Azzam's correspondents, Shaheed Suraqah Al-Andalusi, was killed in December 2001, in the Battle for Tora Bora, by an American cluster bomb. His biography and will were published on Azzam.com early in 2002, and any of the Foreign Mujahideen commanders in Afghanistan today can confirm the efforts of Shaheed Suraqah Al-Andalusi in providing media coverage of the events in Afghanistan.
Throughout 2001 and 2002, Azzam.com has been the first to provide authentic news on key events in this Crusade.
- Azzam was the first to provide information that Abu Zubaydah MAY actually have been killed in March 2002 and is not currently being held by the US authorities.
- Azzam was the first to provide a review of the video released by Al-Ansaar News Agency in early 2002 that had recent, March 2002 footage of Usama Bin Laden.
- Azzam was the first to confirm the arrest of Ramzi bin Al-Sheebah despite contrary claims being circulated on Arabic discussion boards.
- Azzam was the first to provide a review of the English video, The Nineteen Martyrs, even before Al-Jazeera acknowledged the existence of such a video. In fact, Azzam were the ones who titled the video, The Nineteen Martyrs, because neither Al-Jazeera nor any other Arabic web-sites called the video by this name.
- Azzam was the first to provide a transcript of the latest interview by Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri on Iraq, after this video was released by Al-Ansaar News Agency to APTN (Associated Press Television Network).
During 2002, our web-site was shut down several times by the authorities and after being shut in July 2002, our web-site has still not re-appeared at the time this statement goes to press. Since September 2002, our domain was forwarding to Waaqiah.com, a web-site independent of Azzam, that we consider reliable, genuine and an authentic source of our daily news postings.
About Jihadunspun.Com
We have some serious reservations on the credibility of JUS, to the extent that we advise the Muslims to exercise caution when accepting their analysis and articles, and we advise the Muslims against giving their credit card details to them (either to access their premium service or to purchase products). Amongst some of the reasons for this advice, are the following:
1. In the early part of 2002, realising the effect that Azzam's web-site had on the Muslim Ummah and the attention given to it by both the media, US Government officials and 'anti-terrorism' authors (The New Jackals by Simon Reeve, The Holy War, Inc by Peter Bergen, Inside Al-Qaida by Dr Rohan Gunaratna, to name but a few), we expected the Western intelligence authorities, realising that it is difficult to entirely shut down a web-based news source, to invest in a major project in order to discredit our site and reduce its credibility in the eyes of the Muslims. Our analysts established that the authorities could only do this by creating another major 'Jihad' web-site which would use our site in order to establish its own credibility, initially mentioning our site positively, using this to steer Muslims to this new site, and once a wide readership had been established, to begin to directly and indirectly discredit Azzam as a source of reliable and authentic information. For one who has experience of infiltration methods and attempts used by Intelligence agencies against Muslims, it is lethal to be naive.
2. The credibility of a web-site providing information on Jihad is not established by fast loading and the slick nature of its graphics and presentations. On the contrary, many years of hard work, effort and sacrifice including blood, together with the direct nature of the information provided, is what builds up the credibility of a web-site providing news and information on Jihad and the Mujahideen. Many Muslims may be attracted to Jihadunspun because it loads fast, has impressive graphics and gives the (false) impression that it has correspondents on the ground that provide it authentic, direct news. We must admit that we ourselves were initially fooled by its external image and supported and cooperated with them.
Allah (SWT) described in the Quran about the mosque that the hypocrites in Madinah established as a rival mosque to that established by the Prophet (SAWS). The mosque established by the hypocrites was larger, better looking and had better facilities than that established by the Prophet (SAWS) and the Sahabah.
He (SWT) said:
"And as for those who put up a mosque by way of harming and disbelief, and to disunite the believers, and as an outpost for those who warred against Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW) aforetime, they will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good. Allah bears witness that they are certainly liars.
Never stand you therein. Verily, the mosque whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety is more worthy that you stand therein (to pray). In it are men who love to clean and to purify themselves. And Allah loves those who make themselves clean and pure.
Is it then he, who laid the foundation of his building on piety to Allah and His Good Pleasure, better, or he who laid the foundation of his building on an undetermined brink of a precipice ready to crumble down, so that it crumbled to pieces with him into the Fire of Hell. And Allah guides not the people who are the Zalimun (cruel, violent, proud, polytheist and wrong-doer).
The building which they built will never cease to be a cause of hypocrisy and doubt in their hearts, unless their hearts are cut to pieces. (i.e. till they die). And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise." [Quran 9:107-110]
3. The 'front' behind Jihadunspun.com is supposedly a middle-aged Canadian businesswoman who is said to have accepted Islam after 11 September 2001. The Muslims can draw their own conclusions from this, bearing in mind the tenfold increase in the budgets and manpower of Western intelligence agencies in the post-September-11th World.
4. We re-iterate and reconfirm the capture of Ramzi bin Al-Sheebah in Karachi in September 2002 regardless of any claims made by JUS or on any Arabic discussion boards.
Furthermore, we put our credibility and the credibility of every news item we have provided over the last six years, on the line to confirm that Ramzi bin Al-Sheebah was arrested in Karachi, that the photograph the media alleged was him was not him but someone else, that Ramzi bin Al-Sheebah was not arrested following a shootout in an apartment block and that the remaining people that were captured or killed by the Pakistani authorities were ordinary Arabs with no connection with Al-Qaida whatsoever - they were neither commanders, leaders nor 'terrorists'. They were simple people who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
As for Ramzi bin Al-Sheebah himself, he was just an ordinary Mujahid who was said to have attempted to enter Afghanistan after the American attack in November 2001, just like thousands of other Muslims. He is certainly not a senior Al-Qaida official nor a 'terrorist' - such claims are made by the US authorities in order to brainwash the American people that America is succeeding in this war against Islam. Various Arab discussion boards circulated reports that Ramzi bin Al-Sheebah was not captured because the person in the photograph of Pakistani newspapers was not him. These reports were translated by JUS, who published them in a special feature, which we interpreted as an indirect attack on our credibility.
5. In response to the second and direct attack by JUS on Azzam's publishing of Usama Bin Laden's latest letter, we have the following to say:
JUS wrote: 'The following letter, supposedly written by Osama bin Laden, has been making its way around the Internet. It first appeared on waaqiah.com, which is apparently the new home of Britain’s controversial Azzam Publications, who's previous sites were shut down some time ago by British authorities.'
Here, JUS have sought to directly discredit Azzam by using the words, 'supposedly written by Osama bin Laden', casting doubts on its authenticity. They say the letter 'has been making its way around the Internet', failing to inform their viewers that the letter was actually an Azzam Exclusive item. Then they proceeded to write off Azzam Publications as 'controversial Azzam Publications'.
This was followed by a direct attack on both Waaqiah.com and Azzam, with JUS saying: 'Oddly, waaqiah.com is currently rife with profanities, published as 'viewer mail', which raises the question if it is actually published by Muslims or if this is another instance of deception by authorities.'
In a statement that Azzam issued on 24 September, explaining why and how our web- site was shut down, we specifically mentioned Waaqiah.com as a reliable source of news and information from Azzam. By JUS claiming that Waaqiah.com may actually be published by non-Muslim authorities, they imply that Azzam, who vouched for Waaqiah.com and forwarded their domain to this site, is also run by non-Muslim authorities. Indirectly they imply that Shaheed Khattab, who lived and fought with Azzam Correspondents, mentioned Azzam in one of his videos [see The Martyrs of Bosnia video, 2000] and survived numerous assassination attempts, must have been duped by these non-Muslims.
This is followed by JUS's reasons why this letter is a hoax, made by by Azzam:
'We have several difficulties with the validity of this letter including the fact that it did not appear on any of the traditional Arabic sources that publish his communiqués such as the Al-Jazeera Television network or the host of Arabic websites that are traditional channels for the dissemination of his material.
Bin Laden himself speaks directly to the Islamic media in his latest communiqué 'To The Islamic Ummah On The First Anniversary Of The New American Crusader War' about the obligation to make information widely available. It would be an oddity indeed if this material was only disseminated to one source, and in particular, a non-Arab one.'
We are amazed at the inference that just because the Arabic form of the letter has not yet appeared on Al-Jazeera, the letter is a hoax? Whilst it is true that Al-Jazeera has previously mentioned statements and shown Al-Qaida videos, Al-Jazeera has also edited some of these videos and chosen not to show some at all, such as The Unreleased Interview of Usama Bin Laden with Al-Jazeera correspondent, Tayseer Allouni, which was not shown by Al-Jazeera at all. This interview was instead released by Al- Ansaar News Agency.
As for the 'host of Arabic websites' that JUS relies upon, the majority of these web-sites are new web-sites that, like JUS, opened well after 11 September 2001. These 'arab sources' include Al Neda (Markaz Darasaat) [we consider this to be a 100% authentic web-site], Jehad Online - which, despite being a new site, does an excellent job of spreading news in the Arabic language.
After this, the JUS writer wrote:
'In addition, the letter itself contains none of the earmarks of Bin Laden; there is no date, no Islamic greeting, no reference where it came from and no signature or closing accreditation. For those familiar with Bin Laden’s material, the tone and style of this letter are also problematic, lacking his usual commitment and style of expression. This could be due in part to poor translation however it seems highly unlikely that Bin Laden would issue a second address within a two week period, let alone one that does not refer to any current events. Of course there is the possibility that it could be both a very old letter and a poor translation.'
and
'It is common knowledge amongst those who understand his modus operandi that Osama bin Laden has absolutely no concern whatsoever what the American press thinks about him or how they represent him for that matter. Furthermore, he always dictates his own timing when communicating and it is highly unlikely that he would issue this lengthy 'reply' to something that is of absolutely no consequence, namely the American press.'
and
'All that said, the article follows, uncut and uncensored. We caution our readers with these concerns and publish it here for information purposes only so that you may draw your own conclusions.'
With all due respect, we would like to ask JUS: We are surprised at your your newly found 'expertise' on Bin Laden's material, his modus operandi, and what he thinks, or does not think, about the American press. A slick website and a large operating budget allowing you to show Bin Laden's face on your five-month-old web-site and the ability to purchase and stream all his latest videos online, in some cases paying Al-Jazeera or APTN tens of thousands of dollars to purchase these videos, does not make you an authority on Bin Laden, nor allows you to inform the people what he is or isn't.
Azzam Publications is a news source: when we provide news, it is already authentic and confirmed/provided by our correspondents. Our years of experience and credibility bear testimony to this. We do not need to fabricate things, especially those attributed to another Muslim (i.e. Usama Bin Laden) just so people can 'draw their own conclusions'.
Azzam Publications was established as an authentic news source at least five years before Jihadunspun even came into existence. We have already established our credibility amongst both Muslims and non-Muslims and this credibility can be freely confirmed by any 'individuals of substance' anywhere in the World, as well as reliable Jihad media sources such as Maktabah Al-Ansaar bookstore (established 1995) and Dharb-e-Mumin (established 1996).
We are not in need of a five-month old web-site, allegedly run by a post-September 11th middle-aged convert to Islam, with plenty of money and resources at 'her' disposal, to establish our credibility.
6. Jihadunspun, whilst portraying the impression that it provides all news relating to this War against Islam, uncensored and unedited, specifically chooses to selectively censor and block articles and news items that will be of immense value to the Muslims. Examples of important items and accounts that Jihadunspun censored and did not publish are:
- News items relating to the execution of Mossad agent - Daniel Pearl (also known as a 'Wall Street Journal' journalist), including written and video evidence from the Mujahideen that he was a spy.
- A first hand account of the Battle of Shahi-Kot, also known as Operation Anaconda, in the account published by Azzam with the title: Operation Anaconda or Operation Giant Mongoose, which can currently be found on Waaqiah.com.
- A first hand account of the massacre at the Qila-e-Janghi fortess in Mazar- i-Sharif, published by Azzam with the title: The Fortress of War, which can currently be found on Waaqiah.com.
- The Statement from Azzam.com Regarding Closure of its Web-Site which mentioned the events leading up to the closure of our web-site, exposed the plots of the authorities against us and indirectly warned the Muslims against web-sites like Jihadunspun.
We acknowledge that several Azzam articles have been published by Jihadunspun, some with and some without our permission, some with mentioning Azzam as the source and some without mentioning Azzam as the source. It is our consideration that these articles were published in order to build up JUS's credibility in the eyes of the Muslims, as a web-site that 'supports Azzam.'
7. Jihadunspun has never been shut down by the authorities and nor has it been mentioned by them as a site that promotes terrorism, even though some of the material on Jihadunspun may be considered more 'extreme' than that found on other pro-Jihad web-sites. In fact, non-Muslim journalists who have attacked other Jihad web-sites, actually praise Jihadunspun. However, we expect that following this statement of ours, Jihadunspun may intermittently be closed and open, so that it will be said: 'Jihadunspun is also being shut down like other web-sites'.
8. Jihadunspun has long been involved in slandering the Mujahideen and those who sacrifice their lives for Islam and Jihad. Jihadunspun frequently refers to both captured and free Mujahideen, as 'Al-Qaida leaders', terrorists and 'Al-Qaida operatives', even when the non-Muslim media has not labelled them as such. Such comments serve to add weight to the claims of prosecutors in ignorant states when any Mujahideen are captured, that they indeed are Al-Qaida and terrorists, as mentioned on 'pro-Jihad' web-sites. Prosecutors frequently mention information from pro-Jihad web-sites, such as the recent law suit filed by Americans against Saudi Arabian individuals and organisations, which mentions Azzam Publications specifically by name, as part of its 'evidence'.
More recently, Jihadunspun publicised media reports slandering Usama Bin Laden and accusing him of adultery, in the 03 November 2002 news item titled 'Bin Laden's Wife Held in Armed Yemen Raid', where they mentioned Pakistani Dawn's report of Bin Laden's 'fifth and favourite wife' having been captured in Yemen, when it is well-known from the Islamic Shariah that a Muslim man marrying more than four wives is tantamount to adultery. Despite this, they attempt to give the impression that they are a Muslim-run, 'pro-Jihad' web-site.
To conclude, we say that we have some serious reservations about Jihadunspun, as to who is behind it, based on the above reasons, foremost amongst them being recent efforts of JUS to discredit Azzam and their slandering of the Mujahideen, and we would like to warn the Muslims against accepting the opinions of this site, giving their personal details to them and offering to help them.
As for those sincere Muslims who have volunteered to help them in editing, translating, etc., we would advise them to cease their assistance, and if they still wish to contribute to the efforts of the Mujahideen, to make web-sites of their own, which distribute the authentic news of the Mujahideen from sources whose credibility was established long before 11 September 2001.
For those who do not wish to accept this advice, we absolve our responsibility for them before Allah on the Day of Judgement, and any repercusions they suffer in this life and the next, resulting from failing to heed our advice.
As for George Tenet, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, we say: Perish in your rage for all your attempts to discredit the Jihad and weaken support amongst the Muslims for the Mujahideen will be in vain. Allah has exposed your plans and he will help the believers against the disbelievers, hypocrites and their allies, no matter what 'intelligent' plans your spin-doctors come up with, for our Lord has promised us: "Never will Allah allow the disbelievers a upper-hand over the believers." [Quran 4:141]
Finally, we say to the Muslims who remain double-minded after reading this statement: You have a simple choice to make as to who to believe; on the one hand of the scale you have the fast loading, new web-site of Jihadunspun, with its impressive graphics, and on the other hand you have the credibility of Azzam.Com, Qoqaz.net and Maktabah Al-Ansaar and the blood of its martyred correspondents to consider.
We end with praises to Allah and peace and blessings upon His Messenger, Muhammad (SAWS), the leader of the Mujahideen, his family, his Companions and all those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection.
Peace be upon those who follow the Guidance.
Azzam Publications
01 Ramadan 1423AH
06 November 2002 |
