Maghreb reacts to latest book by al-Qaeda mastermind Dr. Fadl
2009-03-13
In his latest book, jailed al-Qaeda leader Dr. Fadl furthers his war of words with Ayman al-Zawhiri. Experts in the Maghreb fear the message may not resonate with today's youth.
Mawassi Lahcen in Casablanca, Jamel Arfaoui in Tunis and Said Jameh in Algiers contributed to this report – 13/03/09
 [File] Jailed former terrorist Dr. Fadl challenges al-Qaeda's justification for killing innocents. |
The writings of former Egyptian Islamic Jihad leader Sayyid Imam Abdelaziz al-Sharif, aka Dr. Fadl, have sparked a major debate in fundamentalist circles in the Arab and Muslim worlds during the last two years for what they include: strongly-worded criticisms of al-Qaeda and its leaders, Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri.
From jail, Dr. Fadl caused a major controversy in 2007 with "Rationalizing Jihadist Action in Egypt and the World Rationalization of Jihadist Action" in which he criticised the bloody ideology of al-Qaeda and refuted al-Qaeda ideologues' attempts to justify the killing of innocent people. The importance of the book was such that Ayman al-Zawahiri was compelled to break his silence in mid-2008 order to challenge Dr. Fadl's ideas with his own book "Acquittal".
The war of words continued. In November, Dr. Fadl answered al-Zawahiri's answer with yet another manuscript: "Memo of Refutation of 'Acquittal Book'".
The two men go back a long way. It was not always this acrimonious.
Al-Sharif was born in 1950 in Egypt and met fellow surgeon al-Zawahiri following the 1967 Egyptian-Israeli war. In 1986, the two men went to Afghanistan to co-ordinate their terrorist movement.
Fadl, however, remained behind the scenes, and let al-Zawahiri take on a public role. It was often assumed that al-Zawahiri was the Emir of the group, when in fact it was Fadl who was the movement's ideologue. For instance, he promoted the concept of takfir and the execution of the accused heretics.
Fadl was arrested by Yemeni authorities and extradited to Egypt in 2004 to begin serving a life sentence. It is from his Egyptian prison that Fadl began writing to repudiate terrorism.
Magharebia asked several experts in the region for their reactions to his latest release.
In a written statement, Alia Allani, author of a book on Islamic movements in the Greater Maghreb, said that Fadl's book would have a specific effect on proponents of violence in the region, especially al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
"I think that the message sent by Dr. Fadl will be read by everyone with great attention, as it carries in itself a clear indication to the Islamic groups that resort to violence, to the effect that you shouldn't depend on 'us'. This means that the external financial and moral support is disappearing."
Chahrazed Akacha, media official in the Tunisian Liberal Social Party, said that the initiative might have good effect and that it would help in putting an end to violence. "I think it's a good idea. With these initiatives and through co-operation, we'll reach a positive result."
"I think that all efforts, regardless of their size, are needed in order to prevent their expansion in the Maghreb region," Akacha added. "Extremist groups take advantage of any loopholes… to mobilise people. I don't think that anyone who believes in the values of the republic will be happy with their expansion. They would be a real catastrophe if they manage to form bases for themselves."
Idriss Kasouri, a Moroccan academic researcher specialising in terrorism and fundamentalist movements, believes that Dr. Fadl's book must be handled with extreme caution.
"[It] didn't relinquish the takfirist ideology and the principle of jihad for the establishment of an Islamic state," Kasouri argued. "Rather, it just criticised the means of direct violence adopted by al-Qaeda without taking the balance of international power into consideration, and the catastrophic results that had a negative impact on the influence and effect of al-Qaeda."
Still, Kasouri noted that there is "no debate in Morocco on the fiqh and doctrinal aspects of the takfirist ideology embraced by al-Qaeda [nor any] Moroccan book or reference that promotes the takfirist ideology."
Fundamentalist circles in Morocco, he told Magharebia, "are not directly concerned with the ongoing debate over the review of the principles of jihadist, takfirist ideology, as is seen in the Arab East, where the influence of al-Qaeda is greater".
Moustapha Khalafi, Moroccan MP for the Justice and Development Party (PJD) and a manager for the fundamentalist Attajdid newspaper, believes that Dr. Fadl's last book had no impact in Morocco.
"The problem posed by the case of Morocco today is basically related to human rights issues, through looking for a way out of the status of the jihadist, Salafist detainees in Moroccan prisons, rather than a problem of the jurisprudent review of al-Qaeda ideology," Khalafi explained.
"On the one hand, al-Qaeda ideology in Morocco doesn't have the same weight and impact it has had in Egypt, and its effect is restricted to a very limited category. On the other hand, we should note that the symbols of the jihadist, Salafist movement in Morocco, foremost among who are Abu Hefs and Kettani, have previously expressed positions different from those of al-Qaeda a long time before the release of Dr. Fadl's book."
"In addition, the book has been linked to a fiqh battle between Dr. Fadl and al-Zawahiri, and has been characterised by a local Egyptian approach," Khalafi said. "For all these reasons, its impact in Morocco has been limited."
 [File] The latest book by Dr. Fadl received considerable media attention in Algeria. |
In Algeria, Dr. Fadl's book has attracted notable media attention. Widely-read daily Echorouk published a series of articles on the book, with the final instalment appearing this week.
Fadl's conclusions "did not come as a surprise" to Algerians who have seen thousands of civilians killed, said Abdelkrim, an imam in one of Algiers' mosques. "Fadl did not tell us something we did not already know."
"The al-Qaeda approach is wrong. That is why it only wreaked havoc on the Muslim world," he added.
Mohamed Laroussi Hamdi, inspector in charge of religious affairs in the Algerian capital, agreed with the imam. "Terminating such chaotic conditions can only be achieved by accurately understanding the true meaning of Islam and abandoning ideas that feed on ignorance," he told Magharebia.
Dr. Fadl's book is an expression of "a habit shared by all Islamic extremists who embrace takfir ideologies, before they realise the aberrance of their ideas, which they zealously advocated and used in instigating youth to kill Muslims, not just in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also in Algeria, Yemen and Egypt," said Algerian security expert Mouloud Morchedi.
But Fadl's books may not reach young people as much as many would hope. "The majority of them have never heard of him," Morchedi said. "I believe that a calling issued by a former Emir in their arena, like Hassan Hattab, [aka Abou Hamza, who recently surrendered to Algerian authorities and asked fellow militants to re-join society] is bound to have a deeper impact."
"It seems that years in jail are capable of pricking their consciences. To prove that, Dr. Fadl, who used to be one of the founding members of al-Qaeda, sees in his and others' terms in jail as another way of reconsidering extremist notions," Morchedi continued.
"Admitting that the approach of Bin Laden and al-Zawahiri was wrong means nothing now, because it is too late."
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mohamed Posted 2009-03-17
We need universities, research centres and human and material resources in order to develop our country. We need democracy to control our leaders, who are soon to install their children in their positions. Look at Israel: it is a little country that has been in war since 1948 and it has become a world economic and military power. Presently, our fate remains connected to the gurus Shiek Fadl and Sheik Whatever. We are not ready to wake up. May these sheikhs go to Hell!
mohand Posted 2009-03-18
There you have it: Islam. The world is frozen, and I so humbly think that neither Islam, nor the West, nor the East can get the Muslim mind working again so as to acquire any given spiritual elevation. The work must be done up close, where it is necessary to unite culture and religion. It is not as Coluche said “paganism and arithmetic”.
boumaali Posted 2009-03-20
What will he say to God after so many innocent women and child victims, whom we know as the helpless.
سمير Posted 2009-03-24
You can imagine what the generations of thirtieth century will say about Islam in the twentieth century.
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2009-03-26
“A Comment about this Book: Acharif Addresses a Letter to all the Muslims” – May praise be to God alone. – Dear Muslims, Wherever you may be and wherever you may come from, I address this appeal to you. As you know, every time there is a suicide bombing, the first to be accused are the Muslims. Have you ever wondered why this is??? Do you not look to resolve this problem??? I am sure that you do indeed ask yourselves these questions and do indeed look for solutions. So, it is to this regard that I would like to personally step in and ask you to follow my advice. Firstly, if others are accusing Muslims, then it is because that every time there is a bombing, the author behind it is pretending to be Muslim. Secondly, Does this mean they are really Muslims??? But of course, the answer is no. Dear Muslims, be united and teach the world that our religion is a symbol of tolerance, peace and love. Dear Muslims, avoid those who would teach your violence and keep good watch over your children, who could easily become prey to the attitudes of false Islamists. Dear Muslims, Islam has never been a symbol of violence, being that our Prophet taught everyone love and love alone. Dear Muslims, do not forget that, above all else, violence gives a bad image of Islam and of our Prophet. Dear Muslims, since when has our God permitted us to kill innocents? ...Never, given that all religions teach love, tolerance and peace. Dear Muslims, follow my advice: Being Muslims is a symbol of wisdom and reliability and of sowing love and peace; it is not a symbol of being scandalous and sowing fear and giving a bad image to Islam. Dear Muslims of the heart from a country of tolerance and Islam, as the Prophet...
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2009-03-26
“The Cowardice of al-Qaeda” – May praise be to God alone and prayers and respects be to the Prophet, His family and His companions. – How many families will find themselves overnight without a father and without resources and are going to be forced to beg for charity or to have the daughters become prostitutes in order to live and allow the parents to survive? Bombing have cost the lives of innocent Egyptians, most of whom were respnsible for a family and are difficult to replace. Casablanca, London, Madrid, New York! And, as if by some miracle, they chose 11 September, a day that corresponds to a Jewish religious holiday. Muslims are mistreated by their employers because they have become suspects. What a shame that this is the source of an employment crisis for thousands of families. Is al-Qaeda’s goal to have more poverty and thus prostitution just to get some bread? What luck the rich have because of al-Qaeda’s network: everything is cheaper, especially the human beings, who are either labourers or sex workers for the sons of the rich. What a shame to do such bombings, which offer nothing more than poverty and misery. What a good way to destroy the Islamic umma. One last comment: if the Zionists were not convinced that the network was working behind the scenes for the Palestinians, I am sure that Sharon would have declared independences for Palestine within two days of 11 September. But, as the saying goes: “if you are afraid of chickens, then you don’t get to eat any eggs.” Personally, I appeal to everyone’s consciences to say “No!” to the bombings, which offer nothing more than misery and put pressure on the Arab-Muslim countries. –Signed, Acharif Moulay Abdellah Bouskraoui
Bendjeffal Posted 2009-04-02
The topic of the legal means (in the religious sense of the word) for coming to power are subject to discussion. As usual, the surprising and contradictory Egyptians are the most adept in creating and then abandoning these principles. Take at a look at nationalism: it was responsible for initiating the revolution to take power, yet now it is the nationalists who are renouncing Anouar el-Sadate, the friend of Nasser. And, they are going beyond renunciation to the actual betrayal of other Arab countries. And so on and so on. Take a look also at the Muslims brothers who began the jihad then abandoned it. Now you have “jihadists” (since Islam recognises jihad as a legitimate means according to the fikh titled “Fikh el Jihad”). These are Egyptians who are clashing into one another in order to tell us how to do jihad. Sirs, I will recall to your minds that when the Muslim world was guided by the Muslims of the Maghreb, there was science, prosperity, civilisation and peace. All the Egyptians had to do was join the game and the whole thing got messed up. It is a mess because these people range from enjoying pornography to being extremists. –A word to the wise!
العين الناقدة Posted 2009-04-12
Current means to fight the so-called terrorism seem ineffectual. This is because they have relied mainly on the security solution and were negligent in raising awareness and guidance. Discourse in this regard was entrusted to figures borne from the womb of animosity in which there is no hope to communicate with “terrorists”, those who turn in their circle of “scholars” supporting Sultans and whose partiality or piety is doubted. Don't they all wish to be trusted by “terrorists” but they are considered enemies of their words and untrustworthy even if they are right or honest as much as their preaching and advice fall within the interest of their enemies? The calls of some leaders, who fell in prison which made them review and evaluate then come up with reviewed positions, relied on, are ineffective because they are accused of acting under constraint, defeat or selling their conscience. Moreover, there are groups calling themselves Jihadists, respecting the decisions of general congresses which are not affected by rigid media campaigns, a published book or another one replying to it. The discourse of the campaigns which is full of prior condemnation, defamation, insult and excessive attack is driving away, terrifying, doesn't attract “the misguided”, doesn't call them to listen, contemplate and use reason. On the contrary, it enhances their persistence, determination and will to develop their attack methods, reinforce their defense lines, attract and recruit more supporters who are innately prepared... It is advisable to avoid such discourse. The alternative is to plan on the long run by reforming educational curricula to take into consideration religious sciences which were marginalized. This will be through increasing the part of the Qur'an studied, choose carefully this part, strike a balance between educational subjects so that the pupil shows the same interest to all subjects in the same level. He should not just be interested in subjects with a high coefficient. There should be a restoration of the biography of the messenger of God, peace be upon him, within subjects. (But it should be cleansed from fancies, heresy, myths and select what is in conformity with Qur'an and approved by all Muslim). The main subject is the doctrine of behaviour and worship far from the doctrinal trends, from the kindergarten to university in order to shape a moderate, balanced Muslims and close the gaps for the infiltration of misguidance thus extremism and terrorism. (To be continued).
العين الناقدة Posted 2009-04-12
In the presence of the moderate, balanced Muslim as well as the scientific writings precisely documented in the light of historical events far from the fanaticism of its author, the real image of the religion of God can be developed for the opponent. But if he insists on the false image and justified his attack against Muslims on grounds of fighting extremism and terrorism, then Jihad with all means is authorized to face the injustice “Permission to fight is given to those upon whom war is made because they are oppressed, and most surely Allah is well able to assist them” (Al Haj: 39). If the supporters of martyrdom ask themselves: Why had Mohamed, peace be upon him, not established the Islamic state in Mecca when he was charged with the message by God? Why had he gone to Al Taef? Why had he immigrated to Medina? Why hadn't he invaded Mecca to fight Quraish there when they prevented him from performing Umra even if he had concluded Hudaybia reconciliation the clauses of which seemed to be in favour of the disbelievers? Isn't he our example? The messenger of God, peace be upon him, had spent 13 years deserting amicably Quraish after the failure of all his attempts to convince them to enter the religion of God. So he went on to find spaces where he could materialize the principles in which he believed with companions who consisted a minority incapable of modernizing the Quraishi society according to these principles. So the bore oppression and repression. They hadn't set up martyr groups or groups to kidnap or kill the infidels. They were sure if they did, they would have lost the sympathy of people who would seek revenge from those who made them orphans, widows or caused them chronic disability; so they wouldn't find any supporters except from criminals, perverts, believers in violence as a way of change and convincing. So he began his research in Al Taef then Al Madina whenever he found appropriate conditions to build a state with a majority believing in God which can impose its religion voluntarily and coercively; not neglecting the fear of its enemies from the expansion of its natural influence. This is because the news which reached people about justice, equality and freedom enjoyed by the civil society encouraged them to join him or seek to duplicate his model in their nations. So they made an alliance to destroy the young state which was not yet authorized fight until then in order to defend its entity and existence not to disseminate religion by the sword as it is circulated...(To be continued).
العين الناقدة Posted 2009-04-12
This is how was the battle of Badr waged was between two armies on a military field far from civilians. The name of Yetrib was substituted by Al Madina to make of it an urban field. It is known that Arab names beginning with an M followed by the vowel a refer to the place where an act is practiced. Maalab (stadium) is a place for playing. Madrassa (school) is a place for study. Maktab (desk) is for writing...He didn't fight Quraish in Mecca because it is not a field of battle which hosted believers hiding their Islam “were it not for the believing men and the believing women, whom, not having known, you might have trodden down, and thus something hateful might have afflicted you on their account without knowledge-- so that Allah may cause to enter into His mercy whomsoever He pleases”. If they had gone to immigrate and left the left the place “had they been widely separated one from another”, Mecca would have become a battle field as every element is a pure enemy in the fighting group bearing the same thought, goal and expressing openly its animosity to believers “We would surely have punished those who disbelieved from among them with a painful punishment”. Hastiness and patience don't meet. This kind of patience which lasted 13 years was intended to build a state which would be a world concrete example of justice, fairness, freedom and equality not just slogans and theories... He was looking for a small space on earth to secure vision of Islam moving on earth which will bring two powers. The first was coming forward, convinced, organized, supportive and defending. The second was belligerent. It had wreaked havoc on itself as it was the attacker and breacher of the law of the world community. It was received with condemnation from everyone even if some were not sympathizing with the attacked. The matter is a matter of principle and human law. In this way, Mohamed, peace be upon him, was not in contradiction with his preaching and calls. He gained the admiration of everyone including the enemy. So has the places where the attacks were perpetrated free of civilians? Don't they certainly host believers hiding their faith? So will the people attacked directly or indirectly trust them? Armed work is premature. Change is not carried out through hastiness or violence. There are things which require generations, natural cycles or seasons. If you don't like a wheat field and want to change it to barley, you must wait for the next agricultural season. As to fruit trees, you have to wait for years...
ammmar-99 Posted 2009-08-13
Ignorance of Islam and of the tolerant rules of Sharia which came to relieve humanity from ignorance, veneration of whims, life and Satan, and which called for following the messenger of mercy are the causes for which we see such destructive models which destroyed the life of Muslims everywhere.
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