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GSPC founder calls for al-Qaeda surrender in Algeria
Hassan Hattab, founder of Algeria's Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), issued a fresh call on Monday (January 19th) for members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb to lay down their weapons. In the written document, which was released to the Algerian press, Hattab appealed to terrorists to renounce armed struggle in order to benefit from the law on civil concord. Drawing on a verse from the Qur'an and two hadiths from the Prophet Mohammed, he condemned the terrorist attacks perpetrated in Algeria in the name of Islam. The former GSPC leader issued his call just as radical Islamists are demanding jihad in Gaza. "What law or moral code could allow this?" he asked in the statement. "Is this really a jihad that would please God?" Hattab simultaneously condemned and repented for acts of terrorism, "which do nothing for Islam or Muslims and against which I have already given warnings in the past". Advising his "brothers" to obey God and halt their activities, he implored them to "return to society and your families; society is ready to welcome you and heal the wounds". Monday's appeal was not Hattab's first. Last August, he responded to an attack on the police academy in Issers with a statement calling for terrorists to abandon their violent agenda. Hassan Hattab left the GSPC in 2003 after a dispute with current leader Abdelmalek Droukdel over the legitimacy of targeting civilians. In September 2006 the group rallied to Osama bin Laden's cause, changing its name to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Hattab surrendered to Algerian authorities in late September 2007. Salima Tlemçani, a terrorism specialist, told El Watan that the message follows a statement by Droukdel "calling for attacks against the interests of Westerners -- particularly Americans, French and Israelis -- throughout the world". The Droukdel communiqué was no longer available, however, just hours after its release, noted Tlemçani. Previous messages about Algeria are still available online. According to the expert, Droukdel's organisation has suffered heavy losses in recent months, to the point where it has been unable to regain ground, except for sporadic roadblocks. This has raised questions about the future of the group. Journalists suggest that differences at the heart of the terrorist organisation have rendered it unable to carry out attacks as visible as those of last year. This is believed to be the result of both a series of surrenders within the heart of the group and a government crackdown. According to Nayla Berrahal of Algerian daily Echorouk, the al-Qaeda organisation "is in a really difficult position since the start of the events in Gaza... due to the reaction of the public". She said the people believe the terrorist organisation is attempting "to profit from the situation to clean up its image following a series of suicide attacks and crimes targeting civilians". Rather than garnering the support of impassioned youths, Berrahal suggests Droukdel's group has alienated itself. "These young people have risen up against the terrorist organisation, which they accuse of executing foreigners' plans and strategies," she said. For many civilians, the former GSPC can no longer fool young people about its real intentions. Lotfi Amine, a student, said the group "has no legitimacy or credibility to support Palestine, given the crimes it has committed against the sons and daughters of its own country". Fellow student Djamel Alek went a step further, accusing al-Qaeda of being "mercenaries". Speaking to Magharebia, he addressed the terrorists: "Those who live in Gaza are pure and their blood is sacred. We do not want it to be mingled with the blood of mercenaries like you." Posted by: Fred 2009-01-26 |
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