A thirty-two minute audio message titled: âA Call upon the Muslim Algerian People,â purportedly voiced by Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, the Emir (Prince) of the Salafist Group for Call and Combat (GSPC), was recently issued on the groupâs official website. In the message, Wadud emphasizes jihad as the only solution to what is viewed as oppression of Muslims in Algeria by its domestic government, France, and America, and seeks to kindle an aggressive and rebellious fire within the Algerian Muslims to join this jihad. Further, Wadud avers that the Salafist principles on which the GSPC base its war construct the same bulwark the mujahideen in Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya, and elsewhere follow. According to Wadud, this is evidence of a âglobal warâ waged between those that allegedly seek to eliminate Islam, and those that are defending the Muslim Ummah.Wadud maintains that the war in Algeria is not for âpurposes of this world,â but for Islam, and they have taken weapons to protect their Islamic identity and isolate themselves from Western âcultural and ideological invasion,â which is accorded greater significance than military invasion. The fight is not limited to just the âgreat imperialistic powers,â but all countries, democratic and dictatorial. However, the Algerian, French, and American governments are specifically targeted as the enemy. The Algerian president, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, branded an âinfidel traitor and a Soviet spy,â is believed by Wadud to serve French cultural interests and American fuel interests. He states: âThe close alliance between the ruler of Algeria and America, this imperialistic power that is trying to gain influence over the entire world, is the greatest proof that this government is not different, in any aspect, from Karzaiâs traitorous government in Afghanistan and from Allawiâs collaborating government [in Iraq].â
Most importantly, Wadud states: âFrance is our primary enemy, the enemy of our religion and the enemy of our belief.â His call upon the Muslims to join jihad is seen as the only means by which the alleged French intervention in Algeria will end. If the Muslims do not commit themselves to jihad, then, Wadud believes, all will be lost and the oppression will run rampant. The audio message concludes with a final call and mission of the GSPC: âWe raised this flag in Algeria according to our efforts, we protected it according to our abilities and called upon people to join it according to our powers. We expect you to join us under this flag, in order for us to raise it more and to fix it more firmly in placeâŠhurry to the jihadâŠwe need men but not any man but only those who are willing to follow the jihadâŠbelieve in Allah and willing to fight our enemiesâŠ. We don't have any other path than the path of jihad.â