EFL:BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Kidnappers of Egypt's top diplomat in Iraq threatened to kill him because Egypt has allied with "Jews and Christians," according to a statement posted Wednesday on an al-Qaida-linked Web site. Al-Qaida's religious court decided to hand over Ihab al-Sherif to its fighters "to carry out the punishment of apostasy against him," said the statement on the site associated with al-Qaida in Iraq. Under Islam, apostasy, or changing religion, is punishable by death. The statement was ominous because al-Qaida in Iraq, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has been responsible for beheading several foreign hostages, including American Nicholas Berg. Al-Zarqawi's group also has claimed responsibility for numerous car-bombings in Iraq - many against Iraqi civilians.
Since al-Sherif, 51, was taken captive Saturday night, two more diplomats from Muslim countries have been ambushed in suspected kidnap attempts as part of what Iraqi officials say is an effort to sow a climate of fear and discourage Arab and Islamic countries from strengthening their ties to Iraq's new government.
Earlier Wednesday, the same Web site posted pictures of the Egyptian envoy's identification cards, saying it was proof that al-Qaida in Iraq had taken the envoy. The pictures showed the front and back of five ID cards in al-Sherif's name. His Egyptian driver's license and a Foreign Ministry card showed his photograph. "These are the personal identification cards of the ambassador of the idols," the group said.
The statement which threatened to kill al-Sherif said: "The sharia court of the al-Qaida in Iraq organization has decided to transfer the apostate ambassador of Egypt, which has allied itself to the Jews and Christians, to the mujahedeen to carry out the punishment of apostasy against him." Its authenticity could not be independently verified. |