Author: Statesman News Service
Publication: The Statesman
Date: October 9, 2001
The Shahi Imam, decrying the American
attack in Afghanistan, said Afghanistan will "Crush" American "might and
pride" and endorsed the Afghan ulema's fatwa for a jehad against the US.
"Taliban Taliban teri jurrat ko
hamara salam" (Taliban, Taliban, we salute your guts), thundered Syed Ahmed
Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, after the maghreb prayer this
evening.
Condemning America's "barbaric bombing",
he hailed Osama bin Laden and said his death will cause a thousand bin
Laden to be born.
He said, "Afghanistan will start
the downfall of the US. Inshallah, America's days of terror are numbered.
The mujahiddeen with the might of Islam and passion of principles will
crush the might of America."
He added, "it is Allah's power that
caused Bush to hide in a bunker during the 11 September attack. For that
no weapons were needed, only the divine passion. Muslims do not fear the
US. The US' might and pride will be crushed."
Addressing a 2000-strong crowd around
the Jama Masjid this evening, he said, "America is a terrorist nation,
it supports terrorists and supplies arms and ammunition to the terrorists.
The end of arms supply will mean end of terrorism and end of America."
"What proof does America have of
Osama's complicity in presenting proof before the Islamic community it
has no right to brand him a criminal. It says it wants him dead or alive."
He said that America, in the garb
of fighting terrorism, had conspired with Israel against Muslims. "Many
Palestinian Muslims die at hands of Israel every day, but where was America's
humanity then?"
He demanded that America instruct
Israel to hand over Palestinian areas and the sacred Aqsa Mosque. "Till
this happens Muslims will not sit in peace and will not let America sit
in peace."
"Unfortunately, the BJP government
is cowering before the Americans. America is the country, which is the
terrorist and is weakening our country. I exhort them to adopt an anti-America
stance", he said.
The volatile sentiment echoed in
the residents of the Walled City. "An attack on Afghanistan is an attack
on Islam", said one such poster in the area. Posters in black were pasted
in the area.
