DUBAI - The time has come to "globalise the jihad", a senior leader of the Islamic fundamentalist Salafi movement in Morocco told a magazine published Friday, the same day suicide attacks rocked Casablanca.
"After September 11 (2001), the jihad (holy war) has become open everywhere," Abu Seif al-Islam, whose movement is considered sympathetic to terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden, told the Saudi-owned weekly Al-Majallah referring to the suicide hijackings in the United States. Asked about the possibility of bin Laden's group al-Qaeda striking against Jews in Morocco, Abu Seif replied: "Morocco is at the heart of the conflict because it is impossible to target the 'Crusaders' in their homes and to exclude Morocco".
| "Crusaders" live in Morocco? Who'da thunkit? |
One of the targets in the attacks which left 41 dead on Friday night was a Jewish centre.
| Oh, well that explains it... |
"Henceforth the battle is global. I think that when the conditions are right the al-Qaeda organisation will not hesitate" to hit Morocco. "The current tendency is not to let the enemy feel safe anywhere he may be," Abu Seif added, recalling that "the Sheikh bin Laden named Morocco in his last message."
| "See? We had to do it. Binny told us to..." |
In a February message attributed to the al-Qaeda leader threats were made against the North African kingdom. "Muslims must mobilise to free themselves from the yoke of apostate regimes subject to America," bin Laden purportedly said, naming Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen as candidates for liberation. |