Al Qaeda's no 2 in a message released on Thursday vowed Dire Revenge™ on the United States over an 86-year jail sentence handed down in September to a Pak woman convicted of attacking Americans.
Ayman al Zawahri threatened new attacks to avenge the sentencing and presented it as another reason that Paks should overthrow their government and join the jihad against the US. Aafia Siddiqui was convicted in February of two counts of attempted murder after she snatched an assault rifle while in an Afghan cop shoppe and opened fire on her US interrogators.
Her story has sparked fierce passions in Pakistain, where she has become an icon for a population rife with anti-Americanism sentiment. Many across Pakistain's political spectrum believe the US has fabricated charges against her and may have even held her in a secret prison during a five-year period in which she went missing. "O soldiers of Islam! Whoever wants to free Aafia and avenge the assault on Mohammedan women, join the mujahedeen," said al Zawahri in the four-and-a-half minute message released in Arabic, Pashto, Persian and Urdu, a sign al Qaeda is looking to broaden its reach across the Mohammedan world.
"We will fight you until the Day of Judgment, or until you stop your crimes. Imprison whomever you want, kill whoever you want, raid whatever you want. The Mohammedan nation is after you," he said addressing the US. |