One would think that if the new U.S. Government guidelines on use of the word jihad had any connection to reality in the Islamic world, the Kuwaitis would see Mubarak Al-Bathali’s activities on behalf of jihad as entirely benign, if not as positive outright.
“Bathali held for inciting youth to “˜Jihad,– by Moamen Al-Masri for the Arab Times (thanks to Twostellas):
KUWAIT CITY : The Public Prosecution Monday ordered the detention of Islamist activist Mubarak Al-Bathali until Tuesday for his statement on his relations with “˜jihadists” in Iraq, which was published in a local newspaper on May 7.
In an interview with Al-Qabas daily, Al-Bathali said he hopes to be an al-Qaeda leader in Kuwait. “The youths organize themselves based on their trust in each other. If I can’t personally evaluate somebody who tries to contact me, I assess his skills through some tests and ask him to conduct an organized “˜jihad” (holy war) operation,” Al-Bathali explained during the interview.
Earlier a local Arabic daily during an interview with Al-Bathali had attributed a statement to him calling the statement bold, true and frank.
“In response to a question on the leadership of the al-Qaeda network in Kuwait, Al-Bathali had reportedly said “˜I hope I will be the leader of this organization in the country”.
Responding to another query, Bathali had allegedly revealed many people in Kuwait currently belong to some foreign organizations such as the pro-Sunna organization, al-Qaeda network and the Taleban movement but denied leadership of these organizations.
During the same interview, he had introduced himself as a “˜guide” for Mujahedeens to do good actions. Going to Afghanistan and Iraq and earlier to Kosovo and Chechnya, he said, fell within the scope of good work….