Muslim Youth Welcome Mandela's About Turn On Afghanistan

Alright, so far it seems like a step forward to me; however, people are still falsely accusing ben Laden for masterminding the 9/11 attack, which I strongly refuse to accept as a fact

بنت لادن

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South African Press Association (Johannesburg)

January 2, 2002
Posted to the web January 2, 2002

Johannesburg

The Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa on Wednesday welcomed former president Nelson Mandela's statement retracting his earlier support for the US punitive military campaign in Afghanistan.

Mandela repudiated his controversial statement that Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden had to be held responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States.

In a statement released by his office on Tuesday, he said subsequent discussions with family, friends and advisors had convinced him that his view may be "one-sided and over-stated".

Mandela provoked the ire of the Muslim community in November last year when he vocalised his support for the war against Afghanistan at a Washington press conference held after his meeting with US President George W Bush.

In December, he reiterated his support for the war during a speech delivered at Durban's Grey Street mosque, saying Bin Laden should be captured and tried for the attacks.

At the time, the former president told the audience that Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network should be smashed and terrorist strongholds destroyed.

In response to the speech, angry Muslims said the elder statesman had no right to label Bin Laden a terrorist when he had not been convicted in a court of law.

In his surprising about-face, Mandela said on Tuesday that he wished to register his sincere regret "if the manner in which we stated our position gave any offence to Muslims in South Africa and throughout the world".

It was pointed out to him that such unreserved support for the war in Afghanistan gave the impression that "we are insensitive to and uncaring about the suffering of the Afghan people..."

He also said he would be arranging meetings with Muslim leadership in South Africa soon to personally convey this message to them.

"We are also writing to President Bush to appropriately qualify the view we previously expressed to him in person and in correspondence."

Mandela clarified his new position on the matter, saying labelling Bin Laden a terrorist could "be seen as undermining some of the basic tenets of the rule of law".

He emphasised that his opposition to all forms of terrorism remained total and said he supported international efforts to combat and eradicate terrorism.

The Muslim Youth Movement in a statement said Mandela's about-face reaffirmed their belief that he was a politician and leader of integrity who was willing to publicly accept that he erred in statements he had made to the international media.

"That he is also willing to say that he has changed his position after advice from 'family, friends and advisors' adds to his integrity. Of course, we should expect nothing less from a man of his calibre."

ماشاء الله


مانديلأ صار فخر لنا .


والأ لو وقف مثلأ مع غير بوش كانت هناك صارت علوم ودعيتم على الرجال بالموت ولأ عجب.

ارتقوا بالحوار برجاء ورحمة بالعقول.



بطوط

تم حذف الإضافة لعدم ملائمتها للمنتدى السياسي

تم حذف الإضافة لعدم ملائمتها للمنتدى السياسي

تم حذف الإضافة لعدم ملائمتها للمنتدى السياسي

تم حذف الإضافة لعدم ملائمتها للمنتدى السياسي