From MEMRI:
May 5, 2011 Special Dispatch No.3811
Reactions to Killing of Osama Bin Laden: Arab Criticism of Osama Bin Laden's Assassination
The May 1, 2011 announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama that American commando forces had killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was received in the Arab world with mixed emotions. On the one hand, there were many expressions of relief, and numerous articles were published in praise of the operation. For example, Saudi Arabia's official news agency issued a statement by a Saudi senior official that "Saudi Arabia hopes the killing of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda's leader will help the international efforts to combat terrorism, dismantle its cells, and root out the deviant ideology that motivates it."[1]The secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, said that bin Laden had been "responsible for unjustifiable bloodshed and for attacks on innocent civilians," but added that "it is necessary to address the root causes of terrorism, rather than its outward symptoms."[2]
The editor of the London-based daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Tariq Alhomayed, scorned bin Laden for dying in his opulent home rather than on the battlefront of jihad "like the young Muslims he had tempted and led to their deaths," and noted that his killing would be a sore blow to Al-Qaeda's morale.[3] It is noteworthy that Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Al-'Arabi said the Egyptian government had "no official response to the event," adding that Egypt opposed all forms of violence in international relations.[4]
In contrast, there were also responses condemning the assassination, threatening revenge, and expressing skepticism that bin Laden had, in fact, been killed. This report will focus on these reactions.
The Killing of Bin Laden – An American Act of Terrorism
Isma'il Haniya, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, was the first, and so far the only, Arab leader to condemn the operation. He said: "We believe that this continues an American policy that is based on oppression and on the shedding of Arab and Muslim blood. Regardless of the different views in Arab and Islamic circles, we, of course, condemn the assassination or killing of a Muslim mujahid and an Arab. We pray for Allah to cover him with His mercy, next to the prophets, the righteous, and the martyrs."[5]
Isma'il Al-Ashkar of Hamas, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, characterized the killing of bin Laden as "state terrorism that has been perpetrated against Muslims by America, which could have apprehended [bin Laden] and brought him to a just trial. With this crime, [America] has harmed itself and provoked Islam and the Muslims." He added that though Hamas and bin Laden had not seen eye to eye on all issues, Hamas nevertheless regarded him as "an ascetic and a mujahid who, though he was a billionaire, preferred to fight the Russians alongside his Afghan brothers..."[6]
Ibrahim Al-Amin, board chairman of the pro-Syrian Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, which is close to Syria and Hizbullah, harshly condemned bin Laden's killing and the Arab reactions that welcomed it. He wrote: "...I cannot stand the criminals in the palaces and military bases in the West gloating over the man's death, or their counterparts across the world... I consider this man, with his mistakes and severity, to be the rival who gave these murderers insomnia – [these murderers] who were brought to power by stupid, hostile, and oppressing peoples. These peoples deserve to be harmed, because of the leaders, commanders, and spokesmen they elected. There is no place and no need right now for logic as long as we are dealing with the madness of those who continue to kill us anytime, anywhere. As far as they are concerned, no one deserves to live except for their own families, which are as filthy as they are, and except for anyone who agrees to be a wretched servant in their palaces…
"I feel revulsion at the American president's smiling face... The Americans fire weapons outside their territory only to kill innocents... They were overcome by fear when they attacked, shot at, and killed [bin Laden], and [then] examined him to verify their crime. They didn't want him to have [a grave] that would become a shrine... [so] they threw him into the sea... Don't these fools know that killing only causes [more] killing?..."[7]
Bin Laden Was Not Buried in Accordance with the Shari'a
Much criticism was voiced regarding the manner of bin Laden's burial. Senior clerics, such as Egyptian Mufti Dr. 'Ali Gum'a and Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, claimed that Islam forbids burial at sea and requires that bodies be buried in the earth. The vice president of Al-Azhar University, Dr. Taha Abu Kuraisha, said that the casting of bin Laden's body into the sea was tantamount to mutilating his corpse.[8]
In his column in the London-based daily Al-Hayat, Daoud Al-Shiryan, editor of the Alarabiya.net website, questioned the U.S. claim that bin Laden had been given a proper Islamic burial: "Sources from the Pentagon said that [the Americans had] adhered to all the rules of Islam in performing the prayers over bin Laden's body, but did not mention any details regarding the ritual cleansing of the body. Was the body washed by a Muslim?... It would seem that it was not, since the body was torn to shreds or burned, or because there was not enough [fresh] water, as the washing took place aboard a ship... The statement discussed the details of the prayers [said over bin Laden's body], and said that an officer had recited the prayers [in English], which were [then] translated to Arabic. We do not know why the translator himself did not recite the prayers himself, if he is fluent in Arabic. Perhaps the officer was a Muslim and the translator was not! If this were the case, how did they permit the translator to attend the prayers, and how many people recited the prayers over body?"[9]
Bin Laden's Killing Exposes the U.S. as Unjust
Many writers asked why the Americans had not brought bin Laden to trial, arguing that this was further proof of America's unjust behavior. 'Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan, editor of the London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, wrote: "Civilized countries that adhere to the law and to the principle of a fair and independent trial do not kill all of their enemies, and even if they do kill them, they do not cast their bodies into the sea. It was infuriating after the assassination to hear the American president declare that justice had been done." [10]
In another article, 'Atwan wrote: "That U.S. President Barack Obama allowed an unarmed man to be killed is evidence that he is not the president of a democratic country that respects human rights and is committed to law and justice. [Rather], the man is the leader of a gang that specializes in killing, kidnapping, and terrorism. In a country of law and order, criminals or terrorists, and all those who break the law, are arrested and brought to justice in court... That is what the Allies did in the Nuremberg Trials against the Nazis, who killed more than 40 million people during the Second World War. I do not think that Sheikh Osama bin Laden is more dangerous than they [were]. Was his barbaric treatment the result of being an Arab and a Muslim?... Al-Qaeda's leader was assassinated to prevent him from being brought to trial, and this was done for the same reason that the U.S. refuses to release Tareq 'Aziz, Iraq's former deputy prime minister and foreign minister... It is afraid that during the trial, secrets will be exposed about the U.S. and its invasion of Afghanistan, and even about its clandestine role in 9/11..."[11]
Saudi academic and journalist Dr. Malik Al-Ahmad also discussed what he called the American double standard: "The killing of bin Laden – if it proves to be true... indicates the moral, ideological, and judicial bankruptcy of the U.S. – which [claims to] adhere to human rights, justice, and respect. The scenario [presented by the U.S.], if it is accurate, is the height of contempt for Muslims, their values, and all they deem sacred... This screenplay, if accurate, is the best possible proof of America's barbarism..."[12]
Syrian columnist Ziad Abu Shawish wrote in the daily Al-Watan, under the heading "The U.S. Celebrates The Murder And Proves Its 'Humaneness'": "On a daily basis, the U.S. incites to killing everywhere, which has created a culture that brought thousands of Americans into the streets to celebrate the killing of Sheikh bin Laden and others – in spite of everything that can be said about the vengeance that their Christian religion opposes..."[13]
An op-ed in the Egyptian daily Al-Gumhouriyya criticized the U.N. Security Council for issuing a statement that had welcomed the American achievement: "[The Security Council] ignored other emblems of terrorism that have committed crimes even more heinous, which have caused not thousands but millions of deaths. These emblems were representatives of countries that are members of the U.N., [countries] to whom all eyes are turned, not of organizations [that operate] outside [the boundaries of] the law and the international charters. The crimes of the U.S. and its ally Israel... against the Arabs and Muslims, which include wars, assassinations and conspiracies, and which contravene international law and the U.N. conventions, are more worthy of condemnation [than Al-Qaeda's crimes], and justify the prosecution of their commanders and participants [more than Al-Qaeda's crimes do]. Bin Laden, for all his crimes, is modest in comparison to [former U.S. president] George Bush, whose hands are dripping with the blood of millions of Afghans, Iraqis, Somalis and Sudanese, or [former Israeli prime minister] Ariel Sharon, currently in a coma, who is nicknamed 'the butcher' because of all the Palestinian, Lebanese and other blood he has shed..."[14]
Bin Laden's Killing Will Only Increase the Violence
Alongside the condemnations, there were also threats about possible retaliation against the U.S. and the West by terrorist organizations. A senior member of the Egyptian organization Al-Jama'a Al-Islamiyya, Osama Mustafa Hassan Nasser, known as Sheikh Abu 'Omar Al-Masri, said that, by assassinating bin Laden the U.S. had "dug its own grave," because the act would open the gates of Hell and expose it to the revenge of the Muslims.[15]
Columnist Muhammad Hamdi wrote in the Egyptian daily Al-Yawm Al-Sabi' that bin Laden had been a mere symbol, without any operational role, so his death would not stop Al-Qaeda's attacks and may even increase them: "The U.S. got rid of bin Laden yesterday, thinking it was beheading Al-Qaeda – but it was more of a propaganda operation than one with any real impact. Since the 2003 occupation of Iraq, Al-Qaeda has not been a single, united organization; it now comprises several local or regional organizations with various goals and aims – in Morocco, the Gulf states, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, in addition to several sleeper cells in Europe and the U.S. Bin Laden did not command a large global organization; he was the spiritual icon of an idea that had spread throughout the world, and he had many disciples – and they are not necessarily members of one huge organization.
"The fact that bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces does not mean that Al-Qaeda has been eliminated from the world. Perhaps it was [strictly] a matter of propaganda, to help U.S. President Barack Obama get re-elected. But Al-Qaeda's strikes in its areas of operation in the Arab and Islamic world will never stop, and may even expand."[16]
Daoud Al-Shiryan, editor of the Alarabiya.net website, wrote in his column in Al-Hayat that the Americans have turned bin laden into a legend and a source of inspiration. The following is an excerpt from the English translation of his column, as it appeared in the daily's English edition:[17] "Some politicians considered the killing of Mr. bin Laden as a turning point in the terrorism phenomenon. But nobody is able to confirm that it is a positive turning point. Some media outlets have for years participated [in the effort] to place Mr. bin Laden in the position of a hero. But the unimaginable death arranged by the U.S. administration for the leader of Al-Qaeda has turned him into a legend, and will lead to the perpetuation of his ideas that have disfigured Islam and have made jihad the opposite of courage."
The Root of Terrorism Is U.S. Policy, Not Bin Laden
Another recurring claim was that the U.S. and Israel were the cause and the root of terrorism, so bin Laden's death would not stop this phenomenon. Al-Azhar Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayeb wrote that terrorism would not end because it stemmed from Israel's acts of oppression.[18] Hafez Al-Barghouti, editor-in-chief of the PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, wrote: "...The future of the Arab world is greater extremism, rather than moderateness, because Arab moderateness is greeted by the West with contempt. Bin Laden's killing will not lead to Al-Qaeda's dissolution, because he has become an emblem for the [terrorist] organizations. Al-Qaeda cells are dispersed throughout the world, and he has not been their [actual] leader for years. Al-Qaeda and [organizations] like it can be routed out only by eliminating the root causes [for their existence], which are still there and are in fact proliferating. As long as imperialist terrorism continues, Al-Qaeda will find excuses to be present... Bin Laden is not the only terrorist; he is part of an array with many components, which includes states, parties and [even] regimes that claim to be democratic..."[19]
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida columnist Mahmoud Abu Hija wrote: "...The Americans' handling of this affair was not just reminiscent of Hollywood action movies, but was conspiratorial in style... and meant to leave the embers of hostility burning [so as to justify] the widening of [U.S.] intervention and operations in pursuit [of its enemies]. Since the ideology of Al-Qaeda spread, bin Laden has not been the problem or even the direct commander in the field. The terrorism [network] was not under his control, [so it cannot be claimed that] his killing has ended the affair and has rid the world of the threatening monster of terrorism. But it seems that the U.S. is unwilling to back down from any [aspect of] its Middle East policy. It still insists on seeking cowboy-like solutions to the problems, many of which it has created itself... The root of the problem is the American policy, which is still not objective in its handling of the Middle East problems, especially the Palestinian problem and the issue of freedom... It's possible that the intoxication of triumph, which prompted Obama to announce the killing of bin Laden himself, will lead [America] to impose even more of its dictates..."[20]
The U.S. Has Not Presented Evidence of Bin Laden's Death
Some writers cast doubt on the veracity of the report of bin Laden's death, claiming that the U.S. was lying regarding the unfolding of the operation and its results. Al-Quds Al-Arabi editor 'Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan wrote: "There is increasing doubt over the credibility of the official American account of the assassination of Al-Qaeda commander Sheikh Osama bin Laden... As of this writing, the American administration has yet to produce a single reliable piece of evidence that the Al-Qaeda commander has been killed. The doubts peaked when it was claimed that the body was 'buried' at sea, on the pretext that neither his native Saudi Arabia nor any other Islamic country had agreed to bury him on its soil.
"This administration is lying. I have not heard a single Islamic country confirm that the American administration phoned to propose that the body be buried on its soil. There are some 60 Islamic countries in the world; contacting them [all] on this issue would have taken several days. The burial – or, more accurately, throwing the body to the sharks – took place within hours of [Bin Laden's] assassination. Why the rush? Why not wait a few days or even weeks?... It is very difficult to believe a single detail of the American story – it is full of contradictions and – I don't hesitate to say it – lies. Is it conceivable that a man who fought the Soviets for 10 years and the Americans for more than 15 years, and who emphasized on more than one occasion that he aspired to die a martyr, and who more than once stressed that he strove for martyrdom, would use his wife as a human shield to protect himself?...
"Late last night, the American administration said that it would release a postmortem photo of Sheikh Osama bin Laden. I warn right now that one photo won't be enough. We have already seen a similar photo, leaked to a Pakistani television channel, which proved to be false. I want to see the body of [Bin Laden] and of all those who were killed by bullets of the various American forces – just like when the American administration killed the sons of [Iraqi] president Saddam Hussein and displayed their half-naked bodies for the lenses of the global television [channels], and just like when it leaked [footage of] the execution of the Iraqi president... I want proof that will remove all my doubts, and the doubts of millions of others – not only in the Islamic world, but in the U.S. itself... The mission was carried out by American forces alone so as to conceal something that they do not want their Pakistani partner to know..."[21]
Syrian columnist 'Issa Al-Ayyoubi likewise doubted the American account: "Perhaps bin Laden died or was killed some time ago, and the U.S. discovered it... It was [the U.S.] that created him and made him a hero, and now it is 'creating' his death and making a big deal of it. But the official American account convinces no one, except for those who applaud American stories and films..."[22]
Columnist Hazem Al-Hadidi wrote in the Egyptian Al-Akhbar: "There is no convincing proof that the U.S. killed bin Laden and buried him in the depths of the sea. The only thing we can be sure of is that bin Laden is in America's hands, and perhaps it is now interrogating him, trying to extract secrets about Al-Qaeda. The story that he was killed and buried at sea is a lowly and dubious propaganda film... [America] is concerned about what his supporters might do if they knew he was alive, and that is why it invented the media story about killing him and burying him at sea..."[23]
Endnotes:
[1] SPA News Agency (Saudi Arabia), May 2, 2011.
[2] Al-Hayat (London), May 3, 2011.
[3] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), May 3, 2011.
[4] Al-Shurouq (Egypt), May 2, 2011.
[5] See MEMRI TV Clip No. 2910: http://www.memritv.org/clip_transcript/en/2910.htm.
[6] Maannews.net, May 2, 2011.
[7] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), May 3, 2011.
[8] Onislam.net, May 3, 2011.
[9] Al-Hayat (London), May 4, 2011.
[10] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), May 4, 2011.
[11] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), May 5, 2011.
[12] Al-Misriyyoun (Egypt), May 4, 2011.
[13] Al-Watan (Syria), May 4, 2011.
[14] Al-Gumhouriyya (Egypt), May 4, 2011.
[15] Al-Ahram (Egypt), May 3-4, 2011.
[16] Al-Yawm Al-Sabi' (Egypt), May 3, 2011.
[17] Al-Hayat (London), May 4, 2011. The text has been lightly edited for clarity.
[18] Al-Ahram (Egypt), May 4, 2011.
[19] Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (PA), May 3, 2011.
[20] Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (PA), May 3, 2011.
[21] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), May 4, 2011.
[22] Al-Watan (Syria), May 4, 2011.
[23] Al-Akhbar (Egypt), May 4, 2011.
May 5, 2011 Special Dispatch No.3811
Reactions to Killing of Osama Bin Laden: Arab Criticism of Osama Bin Laden's Assassination
The May 1, 2011 announcement by U.S. President Barack Obama that American commando forces had killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was received in the Arab world with mixed emotions. On the one hand, there were many expressions of relief, and numerous articles were published in praise of the operation. For example, Saudi Arabia's official news agency issued a statement by a Saudi senior official that "Saudi Arabia hopes the killing of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda's leader will help the international efforts to combat terrorism, dismantle its cells, and root out the deviant ideology that motivates it."[1]The secretary-general of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, said that bin Laden had been "responsible for unjustifiable bloodshed and for attacks on innocent civilians," but added that "it is necessary to address the root causes of terrorism, rather than its outward symptoms."[2]
The editor of the London-based daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Tariq Alhomayed, scorned bin Laden for dying in his opulent home rather than on the battlefront of jihad "like the young Muslims he had tempted and led to their deaths," and noted that his killing would be a sore blow to Al-Qaeda's morale.[3] It is noteworthy that Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Al-'Arabi said the Egyptian government had "no official response to the event," adding that Egypt opposed all forms of violence in international relations.[4]
In contrast, there were also responses condemning the assassination, threatening revenge, and expressing skepticism that bin Laden had, in fact, been killed. This report will focus on these reactions.
The Killing of Bin Laden – An American Act of Terrorism
Isma'il Haniya, the leader of Hamas in Gaza, was the first, and so far the only, Arab leader to condemn the operation. He said: "We believe that this continues an American policy that is based on oppression and on the shedding of Arab and Muslim blood. Regardless of the different views in Arab and Islamic circles, we, of course, condemn the assassination or killing of a Muslim mujahid and an Arab. We pray for Allah to cover him with His mercy, next to the prophets, the righteous, and the martyrs."[5]
Isma'il Al-Ashkar of Hamas, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, characterized the killing of bin Laden as "state terrorism that has been perpetrated against Muslims by America, which could have apprehended [bin Laden] and brought him to a just trial. With this crime, [America] has harmed itself and provoked Islam and the Muslims." He added that though Hamas and bin Laden had not seen eye to eye on all issues, Hamas nevertheless regarded him as "an ascetic and a mujahid who, though he was a billionaire, preferred to fight the Russians alongside his Afghan brothers..."[6]
Ibrahim Al-Amin, board chairman of the pro-Syrian Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, which is close to Syria and Hizbullah, harshly condemned bin Laden's killing and the Arab reactions that welcomed it. He wrote: "...I cannot stand the criminals in the palaces and military bases in the West gloating over the man's death, or their counterparts across the world... I consider this man, with his mistakes and severity, to be the rival who gave these murderers insomnia – [these murderers] who were brought to power by stupid, hostile, and oppressing peoples. These peoples deserve to be harmed, because of the leaders, commanders, and spokesmen they elected. There is no place and no need right now for logic as long as we are dealing with the madness of those who continue to kill us anytime, anywhere. As far as they are concerned, no one deserves to live except for their own families, which are as filthy as they are, and except for anyone who agrees to be a wretched servant in their palaces…
"I feel revulsion at the American president's smiling face... The Americans fire weapons outside their territory only to kill innocents... They were overcome by fear when they attacked, shot at, and killed [bin Laden], and [then] examined him to verify their crime. They didn't want him to have [a grave] that would become a shrine... [so] they threw him into the sea... Don't these fools know that killing only causes [more] killing?..."[7]
Bin Laden Was Not Buried in Accordance with the Shari'a
Much criticism was voiced regarding the manner of bin Laden's burial. Senior clerics, such as Egyptian Mufti Dr. 'Ali Gum'a and Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb, claimed that Islam forbids burial at sea and requires that bodies be buried in the earth. The vice president of Al-Azhar University, Dr. Taha Abu Kuraisha, said that the casting of bin Laden's body into the sea was tantamount to mutilating his corpse.[8]
In his column in the London-based daily Al-Hayat, Daoud Al-Shiryan, editor of the Alarabiya.net website, questioned the U.S. claim that bin Laden had been given a proper Islamic burial: "Sources from the Pentagon said that [the Americans had] adhered to all the rules of Islam in performing the prayers over bin Laden's body, but did not mention any details regarding the ritual cleansing of the body. Was the body washed by a Muslim?... It would seem that it was not, since the body was torn to shreds or burned, or because there was not enough [fresh] water, as the washing took place aboard a ship... The statement discussed the details of the prayers [said over bin Laden's body], and said that an officer had recited the prayers [in English], which were [then] translated to Arabic. We do not know why the translator himself did not recite the prayers himself, if he is fluent in Arabic. Perhaps the officer was a Muslim and the translator was not! If this were the case, how did they permit the translator to attend the prayers, and how many people recited the prayers over body?"[9]
Bin Laden's Killing Exposes the U.S. as Unjust
Many writers asked why the Americans had not brought bin Laden to trial, arguing that this was further proof of America's unjust behavior. 'Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan, editor of the London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi, wrote: "Civilized countries that adhere to the law and to the principle of a fair and independent trial do not kill all of their enemies, and even if they do kill them, they do not cast their bodies into the sea. It was infuriating after the assassination to hear the American president declare that justice had been done." [10]
In another article, 'Atwan wrote: "That U.S. President Barack Obama allowed an unarmed man to be killed is evidence that he is not the president of a democratic country that respects human rights and is committed to law and justice. [Rather], the man is the leader of a gang that specializes in killing, kidnapping, and terrorism. In a country of law and order, criminals or terrorists, and all those who break the law, are arrested and brought to justice in court... That is what the Allies did in the Nuremberg Trials against the Nazis, who killed more than 40 million people during the Second World War. I do not think that Sheikh Osama bin Laden is more dangerous than they [were]. Was his barbaric treatment the result of being an Arab and a Muslim?... Al-Qaeda's leader was assassinated to prevent him from being brought to trial, and this was done for the same reason that the U.S. refuses to release Tareq 'Aziz, Iraq's former deputy prime minister and foreign minister... It is afraid that during the trial, secrets will be exposed about the U.S. and its invasion of Afghanistan, and even about its clandestine role in 9/11..."[11]
Saudi academic and journalist Dr. Malik Al-Ahmad also discussed what he called the American double standard: "The killing of bin Laden – if it proves to be true... indicates the moral, ideological, and judicial bankruptcy of the U.S. – which [claims to] adhere to human rights, justice, and respect. The scenario [presented by the U.S.], if it is accurate, is the height of contempt for Muslims, their values, and all they deem sacred... This screenplay, if accurate, is the best possible proof of America's barbarism..."[12]
Syrian columnist Ziad Abu Shawish wrote in the daily Al-Watan, under the heading "The U.S. Celebrates The Murder And Proves Its 'Humaneness'": "On a daily basis, the U.S. incites to killing everywhere, which has created a culture that brought thousands of Americans into the streets to celebrate the killing of Sheikh bin Laden and others – in spite of everything that can be said about the vengeance that their Christian religion opposes..."[13]
An op-ed in the Egyptian daily Al-Gumhouriyya criticized the U.N. Security Council for issuing a statement that had welcomed the American achievement: "[The Security Council] ignored other emblems of terrorism that have committed crimes even more heinous, which have caused not thousands but millions of deaths. These emblems were representatives of countries that are members of the U.N., [countries] to whom all eyes are turned, not of organizations [that operate] outside [the boundaries of] the law and the international charters. The crimes of the U.S. and its ally Israel... against the Arabs and Muslims, which include wars, assassinations and conspiracies, and which contravene international law and the U.N. conventions, are more worthy of condemnation [than Al-Qaeda's crimes], and justify the prosecution of their commanders and participants [more than Al-Qaeda's crimes do]. Bin Laden, for all his crimes, is modest in comparison to [former U.S. president] George Bush, whose hands are dripping with the blood of millions of Afghans, Iraqis, Somalis and Sudanese, or [former Israeli prime minister] Ariel Sharon, currently in a coma, who is nicknamed 'the butcher' because of all the Palestinian, Lebanese and other blood he has shed..."[14]
Bin Laden's Killing Will Only Increase the Violence
Alongside the condemnations, there were also threats about possible retaliation against the U.S. and the West by terrorist organizations. A senior member of the Egyptian organization Al-Jama'a Al-Islamiyya, Osama Mustafa Hassan Nasser, known as Sheikh Abu 'Omar Al-Masri, said that, by assassinating bin Laden the U.S. had "dug its own grave," because the act would open the gates of Hell and expose it to the revenge of the Muslims.[15]
Columnist Muhammad Hamdi wrote in the Egyptian daily Al-Yawm Al-Sabi' that bin Laden had been a mere symbol, without any operational role, so his death would not stop Al-Qaeda's attacks and may even increase them: "The U.S. got rid of bin Laden yesterday, thinking it was beheading Al-Qaeda – but it was more of a propaganda operation than one with any real impact. Since the 2003 occupation of Iraq, Al-Qaeda has not been a single, united organization; it now comprises several local or regional organizations with various goals and aims – in Morocco, the Gulf states, Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, in addition to several sleeper cells in Europe and the U.S. Bin Laden did not command a large global organization; he was the spiritual icon of an idea that had spread throughout the world, and he had many disciples – and they are not necessarily members of one huge organization.
"The fact that bin Laden was killed by U.S. forces does not mean that Al-Qaeda has been eliminated from the world. Perhaps it was [strictly] a matter of propaganda, to help U.S. President Barack Obama get re-elected. But Al-Qaeda's strikes in its areas of operation in the Arab and Islamic world will never stop, and may even expand."[16]
Daoud Al-Shiryan, editor of the Alarabiya.net website, wrote in his column in Al-Hayat that the Americans have turned bin laden into a legend and a source of inspiration. The following is an excerpt from the English translation of his column, as it appeared in the daily's English edition:[17] "Some politicians considered the killing of Mr. bin Laden as a turning point in the terrorism phenomenon. But nobody is able to confirm that it is a positive turning point. Some media outlets have for years participated [in the effort] to place Mr. bin Laden in the position of a hero. But the unimaginable death arranged by the U.S. administration for the leader of Al-Qaeda has turned him into a legend, and will lead to the perpetuation of his ideas that have disfigured Islam and have made jihad the opposite of courage."
The Root of Terrorism Is U.S. Policy, Not Bin Laden
Another recurring claim was that the U.S. and Israel were the cause and the root of terrorism, so bin Laden's death would not stop this phenomenon. Al-Azhar Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Al-Tayeb wrote that terrorism would not end because it stemmed from Israel's acts of oppression.[18] Hafez Al-Barghouti, editor-in-chief of the PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, wrote: "...The future of the Arab world is greater extremism, rather than moderateness, because Arab moderateness is greeted by the West with contempt. Bin Laden's killing will not lead to Al-Qaeda's dissolution, because he has become an emblem for the [terrorist] organizations. Al-Qaeda cells are dispersed throughout the world, and he has not been their [actual] leader for years. Al-Qaeda and [organizations] like it can be routed out only by eliminating the root causes [for their existence], which are still there and are in fact proliferating. As long as imperialist terrorism continues, Al-Qaeda will find excuses to be present... Bin Laden is not the only terrorist; he is part of an array with many components, which includes states, parties and [even] regimes that claim to be democratic..."[19]
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida columnist Mahmoud Abu Hija wrote: "...The Americans' handling of this affair was not just reminiscent of Hollywood action movies, but was conspiratorial in style... and meant to leave the embers of hostility burning [so as to justify] the widening of [U.S.] intervention and operations in pursuit [of its enemies]. Since the ideology of Al-Qaeda spread, bin Laden has not been the problem or even the direct commander in the field. The terrorism [network] was not under his control, [so it cannot be claimed that] his killing has ended the affair and has rid the world of the threatening monster of terrorism. But it seems that the U.S. is unwilling to back down from any [aspect of] its Middle East policy. It still insists on seeking cowboy-like solutions to the problems, many of which it has created itself... The root of the problem is the American policy, which is still not objective in its handling of the Middle East problems, especially the Palestinian problem and the issue of freedom... It's possible that the intoxication of triumph, which prompted Obama to announce the killing of bin Laden himself, will lead [America] to impose even more of its dictates..."[20]
The U.S. Has Not Presented Evidence of Bin Laden's Death
Some writers cast doubt on the veracity of the report of bin Laden's death, claiming that the U.S. was lying regarding the unfolding of the operation and its results. Al-Quds Al-Arabi editor 'Abd Al-Bari 'Atwan wrote: "There is increasing doubt over the credibility of the official American account of the assassination of Al-Qaeda commander Sheikh Osama bin Laden... As of this writing, the American administration has yet to produce a single reliable piece of evidence that the Al-Qaeda commander has been killed. The doubts peaked when it was claimed that the body was 'buried' at sea, on the pretext that neither his native Saudi Arabia nor any other Islamic country had agreed to bury him on its soil.
"This administration is lying. I have not heard a single Islamic country confirm that the American administration phoned to propose that the body be buried on its soil. There are some 60 Islamic countries in the world; contacting them [all] on this issue would have taken several days. The burial – or, more accurately, throwing the body to the sharks – took place within hours of [Bin Laden's] assassination. Why the rush? Why not wait a few days or even weeks?... It is very difficult to believe a single detail of the American story – it is full of contradictions and – I don't hesitate to say it – lies. Is it conceivable that a man who fought the Soviets for 10 years and the Americans for more than 15 years, and who emphasized on more than one occasion that he aspired to die a martyr, and who more than once stressed that he strove for martyrdom, would use his wife as a human shield to protect himself?...
"Late last night, the American administration said that it would release a postmortem photo of Sheikh Osama bin Laden. I warn right now that one photo won't be enough. We have already seen a similar photo, leaked to a Pakistani television channel, which proved to be false. I want to see the body of [Bin Laden] and of all those who were killed by bullets of the various American forces – just like when the American administration killed the sons of [Iraqi] president Saddam Hussein and displayed their half-naked bodies for the lenses of the global television [channels], and just like when it leaked [footage of] the execution of the Iraqi president... I want proof that will remove all my doubts, and the doubts of millions of others – not only in the Islamic world, but in the U.S. itself... The mission was carried out by American forces alone so as to conceal something that they do not want their Pakistani partner to know..."[21]
Syrian columnist 'Issa Al-Ayyoubi likewise doubted the American account: "Perhaps bin Laden died or was killed some time ago, and the U.S. discovered it... It was [the U.S.] that created him and made him a hero, and now it is 'creating' his death and making a big deal of it. But the official American account convinces no one, except for those who applaud American stories and films..."[22]
Columnist Hazem Al-Hadidi wrote in the Egyptian Al-Akhbar: "There is no convincing proof that the U.S. killed bin Laden and buried him in the depths of the sea. The only thing we can be sure of is that bin Laden is in America's hands, and perhaps it is now interrogating him, trying to extract secrets about Al-Qaeda. The story that he was killed and buried at sea is a lowly and dubious propaganda film... [America] is concerned about what his supporters might do if they knew he was alive, and that is why it invented the media story about killing him and burying him at sea..."[23]
Endnotes:
[1] SPA News Agency (Saudi Arabia), May 2, 2011.
[2] Al-Hayat (London), May 3, 2011.
[3] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), May 3, 2011.
[4] Al-Shurouq (Egypt), May 2, 2011.
[5] See MEMRI TV Clip No. 2910: http://www.memritv.org/clip_transcript/en/2910.htm.
[6] Maannews.net, May 2, 2011.
[7] Al-Akhbar (Lebanon), May 3, 2011.
[8] Onislam.net, May 3, 2011.
[9] Al-Hayat (London), May 4, 2011.
[10] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), May 4, 2011.
[11] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), May 5, 2011.
[12] Al-Misriyyoun (Egypt), May 4, 2011.
[13] Al-Watan (Syria), May 4, 2011.
[14] Al-Gumhouriyya (Egypt), May 4, 2011.
[15] Al-Ahram (Egypt), May 3-4, 2011.
[16] Al-Yawm Al-Sabi' (Egypt), May 3, 2011.
[17] Al-Hayat (London), May 4, 2011. The text has been lightly edited for clarity.
[18] Al-Ahram (Egypt), May 4, 2011.
[19] Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (PA), May 3, 2011.
[20] Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (PA), May 3, 2011.
[21] Al-Quds Al-Arabi (London), May 4, 2011.
[22] Al-Watan (Syria), May 4, 2011.
[23] Al-Akhbar (Egypt), May 4, 2011.
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