We already reported the story of Al-Qaeda members with their Al-Qaeda flag fighting side-by-side the British [and for sure the American] forces in Sirt — Libya. Thanks to MOA who linked to an image showing the flag. But I have more, a video shows graphitis says “Al-Qaeda was here” [watch below] left by Al-Qaeda on the corners of Sirt-City. According to Algerian newspaper three Al-Qaeda battalions (names are: Taliban Battalion, Abu Salim Martyrs and the infamous “Al-Qaeda in North Africa” aka “AQIM”) fought against Gaddafi’s forces in Sirt. Al-Qaeda members used various arms, Russian machine guns and Belgian sniper-riffles, in addition to knives of swords they used against the wounded among members of Gaddafi forces.
Do you take requests? Last month you translated some excerpts from an Echorouk article about Salafists fighting in the siege of Sirte, including one Abu Bilal al-Afghani. But you did not translate one quote in which al-Afghani explains his reasons for taking part in the anti-Qaddafi “jihad”. A poor automatic Google translation gives: “I’m a Libyan-born and home, and I’m like the rest of my brothers work with them in the Jihad of insulting Allah and His Messenger, and denied the Sunnah of His Messenger, and thank God has not left the area controlled by Ansar al-heretic Gaddafi but less than 4 square kilometers… ” But I’d be very curious to know more exactly what he said. I think I get the idea that the fight for al-Afghani is not about “democracy,” as the western media would like to have people believe, but rather about Qaddafi’s “heretical” views on Islam.
In any case, congratulations on your site. What you are doing with your translations is very interesting and important.
This is the exact translation of the of what Abu Bilal said
Your conclusion is right, Abu Bilal is not talking about Democracy. The main issue in “Western” Democracy is the voice of the people, but for the Islamists the power in which democracy take it’s authority is from Alllah ~ This is a good book explains why is the the above argument Islam: A Short History. there is a free Audiobook version available online
I am not defending Gaddafi neither the Islamists, but remember that Gaddafi fought the Islamists even before the US and the West, he is the only Arab leader who dared to changed words, lines and paragraphs in the Quran.
While the Muslims in all Islamic countries demonstrated against a cartoon in a newspaper, not a single Muslim dared to demonstrate again Gaddafi changing the Quran.
Many, many thanks! Your insights are extremely valuable. I’m afraid the western public is woefully ill-informed. I wish more people would read your blog and will do what I can to send some your way…
I’ve seen various images of the black flag appearing flying in Libya. They are fake. Look at the way they are blowing; not even in the same directions, the lower one is whipping hard and the upper one looks like it’s made of cardboard. Nor is the provenance of these images available.