EFL
A suspected leader of a Turkish al-Qaida cell told a court Monday that last year's suicide bombings in Istanbul were part of al-Qaida's global campaign and warned of more attacks if Turkey continues to support U.S. policies or maintains close ties with Israel. | He calls what Turkey has been doing support? |
Defendant Harun Ilhan told the court that he and two other suspected ringleaders who remain at large _ Habib Akdas and Gurcan Bac _ were behind the November truck bombings that left 61 people dead. Ilhan said most of the 69 suspects charged in the case were not directly involved in the bombings. "I accept that I am an al-Qaida warrior," said Ilhan, who opened his testimony with a brief prayer and at times refused to stand during the trial. Ilhan, a bearded man who wore blue jeans and sports shoes to the hearing, also praised the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and warned that while Osama bin Laden is mortal "jihad (holy war) is eternal." "Even if Osama dies, our jihad will continue," he told the court. | I guess you don't need him then. We'll just kill him. |
"Al-Qaida exists in all of the Islamic world for victory and until this fight is finished with success it will continue," he said. He also warned Turkey that if it supported the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq and continued with friendly ties with Israel "we will never leave the Republic of Turkey, the price will be paid." "The war is not over and it will continue until imperialist forces withdraw" from Muslim countries, he said. |