Taliban Condemn Violence in C. African Republic

[Arabman]

The Afghan Taliban on Saturday called for an end to violence against Muslims in the Central African Republic, making a rare statement on conflicts outside their region that was soon echoed by al-Qaida's North Africa branch.

Central African Republic has been wracked by sectarian violence, with Christian fighters hunting down and killing Muslim civilians in recent weeks despite the presence of thousands of French and African peacekeepers. The violence has displaced tens of thousands of Muslims in what the United Nations human rights body has called "ethnic-religious cleansing."

In a statement released Saturday, the Taliban condemned the "merciless killings" of Muslims at the hands of "bloodthirsty militias" as the world sits "idly by."

It warned that the situation threatens the peaceful coexistence of Muslims and Christians throughout Africa and urged the international community — including the pope — to stop the bloodshed.

The comments are "more than surprising," said Nader Nadery, director of the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit, a Kabul-based think tank.

"It has been very rare where the Taliban would comment or show concern about any development internationally that has not been linked to their cause or to their ideology," he said.

While the Taliban long have focused on their domestic conflict, Nadery said the "unusual" statement could be an effort to display Muslim solidarity or may be tied to increasing talk and demands to be recognized as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

"This is symbolically an attempt both to show they are mindful of what's happening globally and caring about the Muslim world, and they are trying to portray themselves as a state," Nadery said.

It could also suggest that the Taliban is trying to help rally international jihad, "more in line with how al-Qaida usually opines on matters from Syria to Iraq to elsewhere," said Michael O'Hanlon, an Afghan expert at The Brookings Institution, in an email.

Shortly after the Taliban statement, al-Qaida's North Africa branch also condemned the "ethnic and sectarian cleansing" in Central African Republic and blamed France, which has peacekeepers in the country, for "fomenting" the conflict.

Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, has previously threatened French interests around the world because of France's military intervention in Mali. In its latest statement — which was picked up by Washington-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist websites — AQIM urged Muslims in Africa to strike French interests in vengeance over actions in Central African Republic.

"To the leaders and rulers of France: Know and be sure, that your crimes will not go unpunished," AQIM said.

The group urged Muslims not to remain silent about the events, saying "they are ugly massacres inflicted upon the Muslims there, before the eyes and ears of what claim to be international peacekeeping forces."

Central African Republic, long one of the world's poorest and most unstable countries, plunged deeper into chaos nearly a year ago when Muslim rebels from the north invaded the capital and overthrew the president of a decade. The rebels pillaged neighborhoods, raping and killing people with impunity for months, giving rise to Christian militias. Those fighters attempted a coup in early December, and violence between the two communities exploded in the days that followed.

The president installed by the Muslim rebels has since gone into exile, and a nascent civilian government is attempting to restore order.

Amid the violence, the world's largest bloc of Islamic countries agreed last week to send a high-level fact-finding mission to Central African Republic and to appoint a special representative to coordinate efforts with the African Union and the U.N.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wir ... c-22629903

[Arabman]

Where's Cherine and the others who were shouting about black Muslims being neglected by the Mujahideens? Here you have the Taliban and AQIM (others to follow soon) showing concern about their fellow Muslims in CAR. Well?

[GeoSeven]

They're paying lip service to score pr points in their region as champions of Islam. I would think otherwise if their actions weren't contrary to their words, I mean, they routinely blow up Muslims themselves. It's akin to Cali Dheere condemning the killing of Muslims in CAR after obliterating a few dozen innocents with a car bomb in Muqdisho.

[original dervish]

France is behind this.

[Grant]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... rrive.html

"The clashes appeared to have started in a stronghold of Mr Bozize, who fled the country in March as the Seleka alliance took control of Bangui and installed Mr Djotodia as leader. Home mostly to Christians, the area where the fighting began has been repeatedly raided by Seleka gunmen, who are mostly Muslim.

Mr Djotodia, a former Seleka commander, ordered the disbandment of the rebel group after taking power. But the order was largely ignored and Mr Djotodia now appears to have lost control of his forces, which have been accused of mass murder, rape and looting. lChronic poor governance has denied the wider population the benefits of the country's potential riches.

Armed Muslim units drawn from the Seleka rebel alliance that seized power in March have defied the new president’s demands that they disarm, and have continued the rampage they began before their successful coup. They have targeted mostly Christian civilians, murdering, raping, torturing and kidnapping children, as well as looting property. In retaliation, self-defence militia manned by Christians and loyalist supporters of the ousted leader have formed to fight back. As they have grown in numbers and strength, the violence has worsened."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that the shoe is on the other foot the Taliban is outraged....... Where were they when the violence began?

[Jam Street]

Grant - what is the prerequisite of joining the CIA terrorists and their agents all over the world like Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab etc?

[waayeel101]

Masha'allah 6aliban wa raggedi

[Arabman]

They're paying lip service to score pr points in their region as champions of Islam. I would think otherwise if their actions weren't contrary to their words, I mean, they routinely blow up Muslims themselves. It's akin to Cali Dheere condemning the killing of Muslims in CAR after obliterating a few dozen innocents with a car bomb in Muqdisho.

The Taliban have a unit in Syria, and I wouldn't exclude them from sending a unit to CAR to train, protect, and fight on behalf of CAR Muslims. If they aren't champions of Muslims, who are?

[Warabaha]

It is a cover for arab colonization. I have yet to hear a single arab speaking about what is happening in CAR or burma in which christian eat muslims and buddhists burn muslims alive. Syria is a paradise compared to what is happening in somalia, afghanistan, car, burma and Angola.

[Grant]

Grant - what is the prerequisite of joining the CIA terrorists and their agents all over the world like Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab etc?

Sorry. Don't know. Try asking the Central Islamist Agency. Al Zawahiri sends out guidelines from time to time.

[Tanker]

The Afghan Taliban on Saturday called for an end to violence against Muslims in the Central African Republic, making a rare statement on conflicts outside their region that was soon echoed by al-Qaida's North Africa branch.

Central African Republic has been wracked by sectarian violence, with Christian fighters hunting down and killing Muslim civilians in recent weeks despite the presence of thousands of French and African peacekeepers. The violence has displaced tens of thousands of Muslims in what the United Nations human rights body has called "ethnic-religious cleansing."

In a statement released Saturday, the Taliban condemned the "merciless killings" of Muslims at the hands of "bloodthirsty militias" as the world sits "idly by."

It warned that the situation threatens the peaceful coexistence of Muslims and Christians throughout Africa and urged the international community — including the pope — to stop the bloodshed.

The comments are "more than surprising," said Nader Nadery, director of the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit, a Kabul-based think tank.

"It has been very rare where the Taliban would comment or show concern about any development internationally that has not been linked to their cause or to their ideology," he said.

While the Taliban long have focused on their domestic conflict, Nadery said the "unusual" statement could be an effort to display Muslim solidarity or may be tied to increasing talk and demands to be recognized as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

"This is symbolically an attempt both to show they are mindful of what's happening globally and caring about the Muslim world, and they are trying to portray themselves as a state," Nadery said.

It could also suggest that the Taliban is trying to help rally international jihad, "more in line with how al-Qaida usually opines on matters from Syria to Iraq to elsewhere," said Michael O'Hanlon, an Afghan expert at The Brookings Institution, in an email.

Shortly after the Taliban statement, al-Qaida's North Africa branch also condemned the "ethnic and sectarian cleansing" in Central African Republic and blamed France, which has peacekeepers in the country, for "fomenting" the conflict.

Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, has previously threatened French interests around the world because of France's military intervention in Mali. In its latest statement — which was picked up by Washington-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist websites — AQIM urged Muslims in Africa to strike French interests in vengeance over actions in Central African Republic.

"To the leaders and rulers of France: Know and be sure, that your crimes will not go unpunished," AQIM said.

The group urged Muslims not to remain silent about the events, saying "they are ugly massacres inflicted upon the Muslims there, before the eyes and ears of what claim to be international peacekeeping forces."

Central African Republic, long one of the world's poorest and most unstable countries, plunged deeper into chaos nearly a year ago when Muslim rebels from the north invaded the capital and overthrew the president of a decade. The rebels pillaged neighborhoods, raping and killing people with impunity for months, giving rise to Christian militias. Those fighters attempted a coup in early December, and violence between the two communities exploded in the days that followed.

The president installed by the Muslim rebels has since gone into exile, and a nascent civilian government is attempting to restore order.

Amid the violence, the world's largest bloc of Islamic countries agreed last week to send a high-level fact-finding mission to Central African Republic and to appoint a special representative to coordinate efforts with the African Union and the U.N.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wir ... c-22629903

nice try CIA agent

[Arabman]

I love the Taliban

That was unexpected! But, why did you edit it?

[grandpakhalif]

Good job.

[GeoSeven]

They're paying lip service to score pr points in their region as champions of Islam. I would think otherwise if their actions weren't contrary to their words, I mean, they routinely blow up Muslims themselves. It's akin to Cali Dheere condemning the killing of Muslims in CAR after obliterating a few dozen innocents with a car bomb in Muqdisho.

The Taliban have a unit in Syria, and I wouldn't exclude them from sending a unit to CAR to train, protect, and fight on behalf of CAR Muslims. If they aren't champions of Muslims, who are?

There are no "Champions" of Islam

Arabman, you know what the problem with most fanatical Muslim extremists is? They yearn for leadership or a group to embrace which bears a resemblance to Islamic leaders and societies of old. The companions, Saladin etc, and in their desires for a replica of that, they fall victim to terrorist and fanatical groups like the Taliban, Shabaab and Boko Haram which present an outward religious appeal because of the beards, religious rhetoric and attire; when in fact, they are delinquents of the highest order devoid of any rational and a detriment to the religion.

[Arabman]

There are no "Champions" of Islam

Arabman, you know what the problem with most fanatical Muslim extremists is? They yearn for leadership or a group to embrace which bears a resemblance to Islamic leaders and societies of old. The companions, Saladin etc, and in their desires for a replica of that, they fall victim to terrorist and fanatical groups like the Taliban, Shabaab and Boko Haram which present an outward religious appeal because of the beards, religious rhetoric and attire; when in fact, they are delinquents of the highest order devoid of any rational and a detriment to the religion.

So, the whole issue boils down to a yearning for leadership or replica of the companions, Saladin, etc? Interesting.