Jihad recruiters appeal to core Islamic religious texts to compel people to fight the jihad. Now Zarqawi is making a similar religious appeal to the ulama, and simultaneously over their heads to the people. From AP:
BAGHDAD, Iraq – An audiotape purportedly made by Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi lashed out Wednesday at Muslim scholars for not speaking out against U.S. actions in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying they have “let us down in the darkest circumstances.”
It was unclear whether the tape posted on the Internet Wednesday was intended as a direct threat against Iraq’s Sunni religious establishment, who have come under attack recently with the slaying this week of two Sunni clerics by gunmen.
“You have let us down in the darkest circumstances and handed us over to the enemy… You have quit supporting the mujahedeen,” al-Zarqawi purportedly said on the tape. “Hundreds of thousands of the nation’s sons are being slaughtered at the hands of the infidels because of your silence.”
On the tape, whose authenticity could not be confirmed, al-Zarqawi addressed his comments to the “ulama” “” senior Muslim religious clerics.
Al-Zarqawi, who leads the terror group known as al-Qaida in Iraq, is believed to have escaped from his headquarters in the insurgent-held stronghold of Fallujah during the massive U.S.-led assault earlier this month.
“You made peace with the tyranny and handed over the countries and the people to the Jews and Crusaders. … when you resort to silence on their crimes, when you refused to hold the banners of Jihad and Tawhid, and when you prevented youth from heading to the battlefields in order to defend the religion,” he said.
“Instead of implementing God’s orders, you chose your safety and preferred your money and sons. You left the mujahadeen facing the strongest power in the world,” he said. “Are not your hearts shaken by the scenes of your brothers being surrounded and hurt by your enemy?”