| Another former jihadi publically changes his mind. It seems to be the in thing to do. despite literally putting their necks on the line. |
Noman Benotman, a former leader of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, who also fought beside bin Laden in Afghanistan and Sudan, published an open letter calling on bin Laden to end al Qaidas "armed struggle." In the letter, Benotman asked bin Laden to break off his jihad with a unilateral six-month cease-fire in order to help the terrorist organization reconsider their direction and understanding of Islam.The letter was published in Arabic, English and Urdu by the London-based anti-Islamist think tank Quilliam Foundation. It will be circulated on jihadist Web forums and through the Arabic-language media.
"I recommend that al-Qaida announce a unilateral halt to its military operations for a period of six months to take a step back from fighting to study and consider the organizations vision, approach and strategy; to explore public opinion in Muslim communities around the world and seek the guidance of those Islamic scholars who have rejected his approach and concept of Jihad," Benotman said.
"Your actions have harmed millions of innocent Muslims and non- Muslims alike. How is this Islam or jihad? For how much longer will al- Qaida continue to bring shame on Islam, disrupt ordinary Muslims lives, and be the cause of global unrest? "What has the September 11 brought to the world except mass killings, occupations, destruction, hatred of Muslims, humiliation of Islam, and a tighter grip on the lives of ordinary Muslims by the authoritarian regimes that control Arab and Muslim states?"
The letter also reveals that before 9/11, bin Laden's plans to launch international attacks against the wishes of the Taliban were strongly opposed by individuals within al Qaida, including Abu Muhammad al-Zayyat, the head of al-Qaidas security committee.
Benotman said: "I have written this letter because I believe that it is time to start a debate within Muslim communities about terrorism, extremism and its effects. The news today of an American preacher planning to burn the Koran shows the damage that al-Qaida has done to the image of Islam and Muslims in the West.
"We also need to start a debate with bin Laden himself. He is not a prophet, he is just a human being. We need to begin a debate with him, to make him change his mind. American bombs have not made him change his mind, but maybe our words will. Al-Qaida has been criticized before, but this time the criticism is coming from someone who was there with them, in Afghanistan, in the fight against the Soviet Union and afterwards," he said.
"Also, I hope this letter will give hope to Muslim scholars and others who are already fighting against al Qaida. They need to know that they are not alone. We, as Muslims, have to say that enough is enough, it is time for the violence and killing to stop."