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'Army of Islam' claims responsibility for Johnston's abduction
Demands release of Muslim prisoners from British prisonsNot the fun loving bunch of happy go lucky guys you thought they were, huh, Alan? Gaza - Ma'an - More than two months after British BBC journalist Alan Johnston was abducted by gunmen in the Gaza Strip, the 'Jaish al-Islam', or 'Army of Islam', has claimed responsibility for his abduction. A spokesman of the army announced in a videotape, distributed in Gaza, their responsibility for Johnston's abduction and demanding the release of "the Muslim prisoners in the British prisons, primarily the Palestinian Abu Qatada". The abducted journalist did not appear in the videotape and the spokesman did not present any other details. So this could be...bullshit? According to Al-Jazeera International, the kidnappers continued in the tape, "and in this regard we do not forget our prisoners in other infidel countries and we say to all of them free our prisoners or we will do the same to you. We wont make an exception for anyone. If you need money to release our prisoners we will give you all you need up to the last dirham we have," the tape continues, according to Al-Jazeera. What's a dirham worth in real money? The BBC has said that it is investigating the contents of the tape. "We are aware of the tape released by the Army of Islam concerning our Gaza correspondent, Alan Johnston. We have no comment on the demands made of the British government in the tape - we remain concerned for Alan's well-being and call for his immediate release," a BBC statement reads. The BBC report adds that the videotape, received by Al-Jazeera in Gaza, also apparently shows pictures of Johnston's BBC identity card. The Army of Islam appeared in the Gaza Strip nearly one year ago when it announced its participation in the abduction of the Israeli soldier Gil'ad Shalit on 25 June 2007. Abu Qatada is under a worldwide embargo from the United Nations Security Council for his affiliation with al Qaeda. He is wanted on terrorism charges in Algeria, the United States, Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and Jordan. He has been detained in British custody in the UK since his most recent arrest in August 2005, shortly after the London underground bombings. A British court ruled in February of this year that he may be deported to Jordan, but appeals are still pending. Posted by: tu3031 2007-05-09 |
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