CALLS FOR WORLDWIDE JIHAD AGAINST "CRUSADERS"
CITES IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, SUDAN, KASHMIR, CHECHNYA, PALESTINE AS CURRENT BATTLEFIELDS
Osama Bin Laden is said to be the voice speaking on a tape broadcast, in four parts, by Al Jazeera. The following are excerpts from the transcript published on the Kavkaz website :
"The West is incapable of recognising the rights of others. It will not be able to respect others' beliefs or feelings. The West still believes in ethnic supremacy and looks down on other nations. They categorise human beings into white masters and coloured slaves.Bin Laden urged his supporters and followers "to establish jihad in the fields of jihad particularly in Iraq, Palestine, Afghanistan, Sudan, Kashmir and Chechnya."
"This is why they established institutions and enacted laws to maintain their supremacy by creating the United Nations and the veto power ...They regard jihad for the sake of God or defending one's self or his country as an act of terror. US and Europe consider jihad groups in Palestine, Chechnya, Iraq and Afghanistan as terrorist groups, so how could we talk or have understanding with them without using weapons?
"On their part, the rulers of our region consider the US and Europe as their friends and allies while looking at the jihad groups that fight against the Crusaders in Iraq and Afghanistan as terrorist groups as well. So how can we reach understanding with those rulers who deny us the right to defend ourselves and our religion without carrying arms?
"The net result of their thinking is for us to abandon jihad and acquiesce to remaining as their slaves...
"What does the destruction of the infrastructure in Iraq mean and the tragedy that befell them mean? And the use of depleted uranium, besieging Iraq for years, causing the death of more than one million children which amazed all who had visited Iraq, including the Westerners themselves? It is a malicious crusade against Muslims.
"What does the reoccupation of Iraq mean by using lies and deception along with murder, destruction, detention, torture and creation of huge military bases to dominate the whole region? It is a Zionist crusade against Muslims."
The tape finishes with Bin Laden declaring : "Jihad today is an imperative for every Muslim."
