CAIRO – Al-Qaeda has released a posthumous audio recording by Osama bin Laden in which he praised revolutions sweeping through several Arab countries and called for more Muslim “tyrants” to be toppled.
Islamists have conspicuously been absent in the uprisings in the Middle East that have largely been led by ordinary citizens angered by autocratic rule, corruption and mismanaged economies.
Al-Qaeda and other militant groups have waged bloody but unsuccessful campaigns to topple these same rulers. By praising the revolts, bin Laden, who was killed in a raid on May 2nd in Pakistan, appeared to be trying to make the Islamists relevant again.
Al-Qaeda had said bin Laden, who masterminded the September 11th, 2001, attacks on the United States, recorded a message a week before his death. The audio was included in an internet video and posted on Islamist websites.
“The sun of the revolution has risen from the Maghreb,” the speaker, who sounds like bin Laden, said. “The light of the revolution came from Tunisia. It has given the nation tranquillity and made the faces of the people happy.
“To the Muslim nation – we are watching with you this great historic event and share with you the joy and happiness. Congratulations for your victories and may God grant your martyrs mercy, your injured recovery and your prisoners freedom.”
Bin Laden praised the Egyptian revolution and urged Arab protesters to maintain their momentum. However he did not mention or advocate democratic rule, which was a key demand of protesters in Egypt, Tunisia and Bahrain in particular. – (Reuters)