Bin Laden warns EU over Prophet cartoons

Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden threatened the European Union with grave punishment on Wednesday for publication of cartoons mocking Islam's Prophet Mohammad.

In an audio recording posted on the Internet coinciding with the birthday of Islam's founder, bin Laden said the drawings, considered offensive by Muslims, were part of a "new crusade" in which Pope Benedict was involved.

"Your publications of these drawings -- part of a new crusade in which the Pope of the Vatican had a significant role -- is a confirmation from you that the war continues," said the Saudi-born militant leader, addressing "those who are wise at the European Union".

You are "testing Muslims ... the answer will be what you shall see and not what you hear."

It was bin Laden's first message since November 29 when he urged Europe to end participation with U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

The message, produced by al Qaeda media arm As-Sahab in the lunar month which ended on March 8, carried an animation of a spear piercing through a red map of Europe with blood splashing as its tip penetrated the surface.

It also carried what appeared to be an old picture of bin Laden firing an assault rifle. The message also coincides with the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Michael Scheuer, a former CIA bin Laden tracker, said: "It's not a coincidence that it was released on the day that is observed in the Muslim world as the Prophet's birthday."

He added: "It's only ominous when he says 'don't listen to our words, watch for our actions' ... that means they clearly are intending to attack in Europe."

THREAT AGAINST EUROPE

The U.S.-based IntelCenter, a terrorism monitoring firm, said the message was "a clear threat against EU member countries and an indicator of a possible upcoming significant attack, however, it is unclear in exactly what timeframe it may occur."

Bin Laden said the publication of the cartoons was a graver offence than the "bombing of modest villages that collapsed over our women children", in reference to U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan with European participation. "This is the bigger catastrophe ... for which the punishment is graver."

"Animosity among people is very old but wise people ... have always been keen on maintaining the manners of disagreement and the ethics of fighting ... but you have abandoned many of these ethics although you use them as slogans," he said.

Bin Laden said Europe was intentionally targeting Muslim women and children at the behest of their "unjust ally who is close to departing the White house".

He said "brutality" had not defeated Muslims and made them determined to "avenge our folk and eject the invaders from out countries."

A U.S. counterterrorism official said the authenticity of the recording was under examination but added it was in line with "al Qaeda's ongoing propaganda effort."

The cartoons were first published by the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten in September 2005 but a furor erupted only after other newspapers reprinted them in 2006.

CARTOONS

On February 13 several Danish newspapers published one of the cartoons in solidarity with the cartoonist after three men were arrested on suspicion of plans to kill him.

One of the cartoons shows a man described as Islam's prophet wearing a turban with a bomb in its folds.

At least 50 people were killed in the protests against the cartoons, which Muslims say are an affront to Islam. Newspapers which printed them say they are defending media freedom.

Sajjan Gohel of the Asia-Pacific Foundation, a London-based security think-tank, said the message did not necessarily signal an imminent attack in Europe but was a "statement of intent".

"A bin Laden message doesn't necessitate countries in Europe increasing their threat levels. The reason why they would do that is based on actual intelligence," he said.

"But when Osama bin Laden talks, people listen -- his supporters and constituents throughout the world are motivated by his words and want to turn them into action... Europe has become the battleground for al Qaeda."

European countries singled out by al Qaeda in the past include Britain, Spain, Italy and Denmark. The new message is likely to cause particular concern to Denmark.

Bin Laden's attempt to stoke Christian-Muslim tensions, by evoking the crusades, also comes as the Netherlands braces for the expected release on March 28 of a film about Islam by a right-wing politician who has called the Koran a "fascist" book.

Tensions over the film prompted the Dutch to raise their terrorism threat level earlier this month.

Bin Laden, the man behind the September 11 attacks on U.S. cities, issued several messages late in 2007 after a hiatus of well over a year raised speculation that he might be dead.

Bin Laden, believed to be in remote areas between Pakistan and Afghanistan, often marks significant events with messages.

On September 7 bin Laden appeared in a video marking the sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks and said the United States remained vulnerable despite its economic and military power.

Ahead of polls, Gujarat riots haunt Modi

The victims, the state government, the courts and social activists have all spoken out on the 2002 Gujarat riots, said to be the worst communal strife since Independence.Now in a sting operation, Tehelka has recorded scores of self-confessed rioters speaking out on the riots - how deadly arsenals were built and transported across the state, how mobs were mobilised and Muslims killed, the role of the police, and even that of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

At the very outset, however, a disclaimer should be made. These recordings of rioters, often bragging about their "feats", have not been cross-checked by TOI.They are being presented as they have been reported by Tehelka in public interest. BJP reacted to them on Thursday evening, describing the sting as "not investigative journalism" but a "collusive" conspiracy to denigrate Modi on the eve of Gujarat polls.Congress reacted to the expose by calling the disclosures "mind-numbing". The rioters, according to the magazine, opened up to its reporter who posed as a researcher working on the resurgence of Hindutva.The reporter, Ashish Khaitan, obviously approached them as being sympathetic to the Hindutva cause. He has clarified that all these disclosures by the rioters were voluntary and that no money was exchanged in the sting operation. By evening, the expose was also being broadcast on television networks.

If there is truth in what is claimed by the rioters, including BJP MLAs, leaders of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Gujarat riots were carried out by religious zealots with the open support, and often with encouragement and assistance from the state police and administration.Indeed, the phrase "state-sponsored genocide", often bandied about by activists, may not be an exaggeration if these claims of rioters are correct.Take for instance, the claim of Haresh Bhatt, a Bajrang Dal leader in 2002 who is now the BJP MLA from Godhra. He claims the chief minister's response in the wake of the Godhra incident, in which 58 Hindu pilgrims were burnt in a train, was "favourable" to the suggestion of retribution. Says Bhatt: "He had given us three days... to do whatever we could...After three days, he asked us to stop and everything came to a halt."

Bhatt said his firecracker factory made bombs and a "complete" rocket launcher.
image and article source:timesofindia.indiatimes.com