30 June 2009 - 15H54
Al Qaeda vows revenge for France's burqa warning
More than a week after French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the Islamic burqa was not welcome in France, a message allegedly posted by al Qaeda’s North African branch vowed of revenge against the country, according to a cyber security site.
REUTERS - Al Qaeda's north African wing threatened revenge against France for launching a "war" against Muslim women who wear full burqas that cover them from head to toe, according to a Web statement posted in the group's name.
French legislators expressed concern this month that more and more Muslim women were wearing a burqa or a niqab which cloaks the entire body, sometimes leaving a gap for the eyes.
President Nicolas Sarkozy said the garments were not welcome in France because they are a symbol of the subjugation of women.
"Here is France mustering all her capacity, mobilising all her institutions and organising her ranks to wage a perfidious new war against our sisters who wear the niqab," said the statement posted on a Web site used by al Qaeda supporters.
It said the French were committing these injustices "at a time when their denuded women ... flock to our land and occupy our beaches and streets, outrageously defying the feelings of Muslims". It said France's campaign against the burqa was tantamount to "religious terrorism" and was an incitement to a hatred that would only grow.
"This is why we call upon all Muslims to respond to this hatred by another that is more ravaging, we call upon them to confront this French obstinacy," the statement said.
It said Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb vowed "before God not to be silent in the face of these provocations and injustices and do all in our power and take revenge at the first opportunity against France and its interests wherever they may be found, for the honour of our daughters and our sisters".
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is the remnant of an Islamic insurgency that raged through former French colony Algeria for most of the 1990s.
The group was formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), itself a spin-off of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) which was blamed for a series of bombings in France in 1995.
France, home to Europe's largest Muslim minority, is strongly attached to its secular values and to gender equality.
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Comments
Burqa
They should stay in their country and they can wear whatever they choose. They should respect the law of the land where they reside. Why did they left their country? For freedom....of what? They should go home if the culture is too important to live without.
Banning the burqa
I support France in banning the burqa. Muslims worldwide expect everyone else to make allowances for them but it's rarely reciprocated. Most predominately Muslim countries make no allowances for westerners at all. In Saudi Arabia Bibles are confiscated by customs at airports and destroyed. If a copy of the Qaran was destroyed by a western country riots would break out. It always seems compromise is one sided. The burqa has nothing to do with religion so get rid of them I say.
Freedom
When the Pope accidentally offended the Muslims by simply stating facts he had to apologise and take back what he said. Please could someone explain to me how it is ok for Al Queda to threaten and insult every individual, country and culture which is not the same as theirs. In every country in the world Muslims are free to build their mosques and practice their religion unhindered. In Muslim counries there is no such religious freedom - Christians may not build churches or practice their faith openly, Jews may not build synagogues and practice their faith openly. Those who choose to live a secular life are also curtailed, harrassed and insulted. How come it is one rule for them and another for everyone else?? Let France rule as it sees fit according to the laws passed by the democratically elected government.
Vive La France!
I totally support France in eliminating the use of the burqa. It is disrespectful of women and it is not a tenant of the Quran. France is an independent nation with its own values. If you immigrate there, you should respect those values. France respects many diverse views and cultures, but it has a right to uphold its respect for human dignity.
Bring it on if you think you're hard enough.
Abu Musab Abdul Waded is throwing down the gauntlet over who has authority in France. It is to be hoped that the elected President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, is up to the challenge.
al queda
They so brave ,they hide behind civilians and use children to do they work.They use the ignorant people indoctrinate its people on distorted ideaology.No educated muslim would join these people .they just outcast on the planet.none of the muslim countries reconised these people.well the countries interested in the welfare of its subjects.