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Osama
bin Laden has said that «we have chemical and nuclear weapons as a deterrent
and if America used them against us we reserve the right to use them».
He said this in a special interview with Hamid Mir, the editor of Ausaf, for
Dawn and Ausaf, at an undisclosed location near Kabul.
This was the first interview given by Osama to any journalist after the
September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
The correspondent was taken blindfolded in a jeep from Kabul on the night of Nov
7 to a place where it was extremely cold and one could hear the sound of
anti-aircraft guns firing away. After a wait of some time , Osama arrived with
about a dozen bodyguards and Dr Ayman Al-Zuwahiri and answered questions.
Hamid Mir: After American bombing on Afghanistan on Oct 7, you told the
Al-Jazeera TV that the Sept 11 attacks had been carried out by some Muslims. How
did you know they were Muslims ?
Bin Laden: The Americans themselves released a list of the suspects of
the Sept 11 attacks, saying that the persons named were involved in the attacks.
They were all Muslims, of whom 15 belonged to Saudi Arabia, two were from the
UAE and one from Egypt. According to the information I have, they were all
passengers. Fateha was held for them in their homes. But America said they were
hijackers.
Hamid Mir: In your statement of Oct 7, you expressed satisfaction over
the Sept 11 attacks, although a large number of innocent people perished in them,
hundreds among them were Muslims. Can you justify the killing of innocent men in
the light of Islamic teachings?
Bin Laden: This is a major point in jurisprudence. In my view, if an
enemy occupies a Muslim territory and uses common people as human shield, then
it is permitted to attack that enemy. For instance, if bandits barge into a home
and hold a child hostage, then the child's father can attack the bandits and in
that attack even the child may get hurt.
America and its allies are massacring us in Palestine, Chechnya, Kashmir and
Iraq. The Muslims have the right to attack America in reprisal. The Islamic
Shariat says Muslims should not live in the land of the infidel for long. The
Sept 11 attacks were not targeted at women and children. The real targets were
America's icons of military and economic power.
The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was against killing women and children.
When he saw a dead woman during a war, he asked why was she killed ? If a child
is above 13 and wields a weapon against Muslims, then it is permitted to kill
him.
The American people should remember that they pay taxes to their government,
they elect their president, their government manufactures arms and gives them to
Israel and Israel uses them to massacre Palestinians. The American Congress
endorses all government measures and this proves that the entire America is
responsible for the atrocities perpetrated against Muslims. The entire America,
because they elect the Congress.
I ask the American people to force their government to give up anti-Muslim
policies. The American people had risen against their government's war in
Vietnam. They must do the same today. The American people should stop the
massacre of Muslims by their government.
Hamid Mir: Can it be said that you are against the American government,
not the American people?
Bin Laden: Yes! We are carrying on the mission of our Prophet, Muhammad (peace
be upon him). The mission is to spread the word of God, not to indulge
massacring people. We ourselves are the target of killings, destruction and
atrocities. We are only defending ourselves. This is defensive Jihad. We want to
defend our people and our land. That is why I say that if we don't get security,
the Americans, too would not get security.
This is a simple formula that even an American child can understand. This is the
formula of live and let live.
Hamid Mir: The head of Egypt's Jamia Al-Azhar has issued a fatwa (edict)
against you, saying that the views and beliefs of Osama bin Laden have nothing
to do with Islam. What do you have to say about that?
Bin Laden: The fatwa of any official Aalim has no value for me. History
is full of such Ulema who justify Riba, who justify the occupation of Palestine
by the Jews, who justify the presence of American troops around Harmain
Sharifain. These people support the infidels for their personal gain.The true
Ulema support the Jihad against America. Tell me if Indian forces invaded
Pakistan what would you do? The Israeli forces occupy our land and the American
troops are on our territory. We have no other option but to launch Jihad.
Hamid Mir: Some Western media claim that you are trying to acquire
chemical and nuclear weapons. How much truth is there in such reports?
Bin Laden: I heard the speech of American President Bush yesterday (Oct
7). He was scaring the European countries that Osama wanted to attack with
weapons of mass destruction. I wish to declare that if America used chemical or
nuclear weapons against us, then we may retort with chemical and nuclear weapons.
We have the weapons as deterrent.
Hamid Mir: Where did you get these weapons from ?
Bin Laden: Go to the next question.
Hamid Mir: Demonstrations are being held in many European countries
against American attacks on Afghanistan. Thousands of the protesters were
non-Muslims. What is your opinion about those non-Muslim protesters?
Bin Laden: There are many innocent and good-hearted people in the West.
American media instigates them against Muslims. However, some good-hearted
people are protesting against American attacks because human nature abhors
injustice.
The Muslims were massacred under the UN patronage in Bosnia. I am ware that some
officers of the State Department had resigned in protest. Many years ago the US
ambassador in Egypt had resigned in protest against the policies of President
Jimmy Carter. Nice and civilized are everywhere. The Jewish lobby has taken
America and the West hostage.
Hamid Mir: Some people say that war is no solution to any issue. Do you
think that some political formula could be found to stop the present war ?
Bin Laden: You should put this question to those who have started this
war. We are only defending ourselves.
Hamid Mir: If America got out of Saudi Arabia and the Al-Aqsa mosque was
liberated, would you then present yourself for trial in some Muslim country ?
Bin Laden: Only Afghanistan is an Islamic country. Pakistan follows the
English law. I don't consider Saudi Arabia an Islamic country. If the Americans
have charges against me, we too have a charge sheet against them.
Hamid Mir: Pakistan government decided to cooperate with America after
Sept 11, which you don't consider right. What do you think Pakistan should have
done but to cooperate with America?
Bin Laden: The government of Pakistan should have the wishes of the
people in view. It should not have surrendered to the unjustified demands of
America. America does not have solid proof against us. It just has some surmises.
It is unjust to start bombing on the basis of those surmises.
Hamid Mir: Had America decided to attack Pakistan with the help of India
and Israel, what would have we done?
Bin Laden: What has America achieved by attacking Afghanistan? We will
not leave the Pakistani people and the Pakistani territory at anybody's mercy.
We will defend Pakistan. But we have been disappointed by Gen Pervez Musharraf.
He says that the majority is with him. I say the majority is against him.
Bush has used the word crusade. This is a crusade declared by Bush. It is no
wisdom to barter off blood of Afghan brethren to improve Pakistan's economy. He
will be punished by the Pakistani people and Allah.
Right now a great war of Islamic history is being fought in Afghanistan. All the
big powers are united against Muslims. It is «sawab» to participate in this
war.
Hamid Mir: A French newspaper has claimed that you had kidney problem and
had secretly gone to Dubai for treatment last year. Is that correct?
Bin Laden: My kidneys are all right. I did not go to Dubai last year. One
British newspaper has published an imaginary interview with Islamabad dateline
with one of my sons who lives in Saudi Arabia. All this is false.
Hamid Mir: Is it correct that a daughter of Mullah Omar is your wife or
your daughter is Mullah Omar's wife?
Bin Laden: (Laughs). All my wives are Arabs (and all my daughters are
married to Arab Mujahideen). I have spiritual relationship with Mullah Omar. He
is a great and brave Muslim of this age. He does not fear anyone but Allah. He
is not under any personal relationship or obligation to me. He is only
discharging his religious duty. I, too, have not chosen this life out of any
personal consideration.
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