Posted on 11/20/2005 7:49:23 AM PST by Mo1
AMMAN, Jordan -- Family members of Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi renounced the terrorist leader Sunday after his al-Qaida in Iraq group claimed responsibility for the Nov. 9 suicide attacks on three Amman hotels that killed 59 people.
The family of al-Zarqawi, whose real name is Ahmed Fadheel Nazzal al-Khalayleh, reiterated their strong allegiance to Jordan's King Abdullah II in half-page advertisements in the kingdom's three main newspapers. Al-Zarqawi threatened to kill the king in an audiotape released Friday.
"A Jordanian doesn't stab himself with his own spear," said the statement by 57 members of the al-Khalayleh family, including al-Zarqawi's brother and cousin. "We sever links with him until doomsday."
The statement is a serious blow to al-Zarqawi, who no longer will enjoy the protection of his tribe and whose family members may seek to kill him.
"As we pledge to maintain homage to your throne and to our precious Jordan ... we denounce in the clearest terms all the terrorist actions claimed by the so-called Ahmed Fadheel Nazzal al-Khalayleh, who calls himself Abu Musab al-Zarqawi," the family members said.
"We announce, and all the people are our witnesses, that we - the sons of the al-Khalayleh tribe - are innocent of him and all that emanates from him, whether action, assertion or decision."
The statement said anyone who carried out such violence in the kingdom does not enjoy its protection.
The al-Khalayleh tribe is a branch of the Bani Hassan, one of the area's largest and most prominent Bedouin tribes, which help form the bedrock of support for the royal family's Hashemite dynasty.
Relatives hold senior posts in the army and other government departments.
Al-Zarqawi often boasted of his family's influence when he was jailed in his native Jordan, said Yousef al-Rababaah, an ex-convict who shared al-Zarqawi's cellblock for four years until both were freed under a royal amnesty in 1999.
"Prison wardens and other prisoners feared him because of his family connections and influence," he told The Associated Press recently.
The family statement follows a rally Friday by dozens of angry al-Khalayleh tribe members, who also denounced al-Zarqawi.
The terrorist leader took his name from the city of Zarqa, 17 miles northeast of Amman.
"If my son was a terrorist, I wouldn't hesitate to kill him," family member Mousa al-Khalayleh said during Friday's rally, claiming he spoke on behalf of the tribe. "This is the slogan raised by the tribe as of this moment."
Sunday's message was similar to one sent last year by some members of al-Zarqawi's clan to Abdullah. That message, which contained fewer signatories, severed links with the terrorist for claiming a failed plot in April 2004 that targeted the Amman headquarters of Jordan's intelligence agency, the prime minister's office and the U.S. Embassy.
Officials have said thousands of people would have been killed had the attacks been carried out.
Al-Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks in Jordan and was sentenced to death in absentia for planning a conspiracy that led to the 2002 killing of U.S. aid worker Laurence Foley.
He also leads a campaign of bombings and kidnappings in Iraq, and the United States has offered $25 million for information leading to his capture.
Every little bit helps.
His days are numbered
I'll believe it when they actually do try to kill him.
Yup. He chose ... badly.
"Prison wardens and other prisoners feared him because of his family connections and influence,"
What now, will he be forced to declare a fatwah or jihad on his own family? His main source of power was fear, and now people simply hate him. Its all over for Z except for his official demise.
Drip ... drip ... drip .... DIE.
I'll bet al-Zarqawi's having a VERY cranky Sunday. And I suspect his family is terrified that the Jordanian govt may come after them, hence the ads.
More to the point, I suspect.
Yeah, that's kind of how I feel. He was renounced by family members last year as well (referenced in the above article), and it changed little or nothing. We just have to keep praying that our incredible armed forces get lucky, or one of his inner circle turns on him for whatever the reason.
Don't they read the paper? Watch CNN?
It's supposed to be "Bush's Fault"!
Geez!
L
Do we have to describe the meaning of "if" to Mr. al-Khalayleh?
Wow! That was fast. Much like how Osama was handed a fat one, oops "fatwa", three or so years after 9-11!
It's a shame it took Zarqawi's evil striking so much closer to the Jordanians' home, for them to renounce him now. What were they doing all these years? Cooking up conspiracy theories?
Methinks this is just eyewash. The Muslims are beginning to see themselves in poor light.
He's out of the will now.
Like that means jack sh*t to him any more. These jihad campaigns kind of take on a life of their own after while.
Anti-Murtha bump.
This is the first such disassociation that I can remember reading. Says a lot about the idea that not all Muslems back what the terrorists are doing. Which other families have issues such a statement? Can someone correct me on this? Please link me to other such statements. I'd like to see them.
Gonna be an awkward scene at the Zarqawi Turkey Day dinner table.
Family severs links with al-Qaida terror leader
20/11/2005 - 11:27:25
http://www.breakingnews.ie/2005/11/20/story231098.html
Family members of Jordanian-born al Qaida in Iraq chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi have renounced the terror leader, telling King Abdullah II today that they would “sever links with him until doomsday".
Al-Zarqawi, whose real name is Ahmed Fadeel Nazzal al-Khalayleh, claimed responsibility for the November 9 deadly attacks on three Amman hotels, which killed 58 people.
In half-page advertisements in Jordan’s three main newspapers, 57 members of the al-Khalayleh family, including al-Zarqawi’s brother and cousin, also reiterated their strong allegiance to the king
Al-Zarqawi had threatened to kill the king in an audiotape on Friday.
“As we pledge to maintain homage to your throne and to our precious Jordan ... we denounce in the clearest terms all the terrorist actions claimed by the so-called Ahmed Fadheel Nazzal al-Khalayleh, who calls himself Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi,” the family members said.
“We announce, and all the people are our witnesses, that we – the sons of the al-Khalayleh tribe – are innocent of him and all that emanates from him, whether action, assertion or decision.”
The statement is a serious blow to al-Zarqawi, who will no longer enjoy the protection of his tribe and whose family members may seek to spill his blood.
The statement said anyone who carried out such violence in the kingdom does not enjoy its protection.
“A Jordanian doesn’t stab himself with his own spear,” they wrote. “We sever links with him until doomsday.”
Al-Khalayleh is a branch of the Bani Hassan, one of the area’s largest and most prominent Bedouin tribes, which along with several other tribes form the bedrock of support for the royal family’s Hashemite dynasty.
Relatives hold senior posts in the army and other government departments.
Al-Zarqawi often boasted of his family’s influence when he was jailed in his native Jordan, said Yousef al-Rababaah, an ex-con who shared al-Zarqawi’s cellblock for four years until both were freed under a royal amnesty in 1999.
“Prison wardens and other prisoners feared him because of his family connections and influence,” he told The Associated Press recently.
The family statement follows a rally on Friday by dozens of angry al-Khalayleh tribe members who denounced al-Zarqawi.
The terror leader took his name from the city of Zarqa, 17 miles north-east of Amman.
“If my son was a terrorist, I wouldn’t hesitate to kill him,” said Mousa al-Khalayleh, who said he spoke on behalf of the tribe. “This is the slogan raised by the tribe as of this moment.”
Al-Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for several terror attacks in Jordan, including a foiled attack in April 2004 using chemicals and explosives in attacks in striking Jordan’s secret service agency, according to confessions by some of his terror co-conspirators. Officials have said thousands of people would have been killed had the attacks been carried out.
Al-Zarqawi was sentenced to death in absentia here for planning another conspiracy that led to the 2002 killing of US aid worker Laurence Foley.
He also leads a campaign of bombings and kidnappings in Iraq, and the US has offered 25 million US dollars for information leading to his capture.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.