“The Prophet said, ‘War is deceit.’” (Bukhari 4.52.269)
“‘I didn’t kill anyone,’ says main suspect in November 2015 Paris attacks trial,” by Rick Noack, Washington Post, February 9, 2022:
PARIS — The only surviving key suspect in the 2015 Paris attacks that killed 130 people testified Wednesday that he “didn’t hurt anyone,” even as he proclaimed support for the Islamic State and defended the motivations of the attackers.
Salah Abdeslam’s cross-examination yielded his most detailed public remarks about the attacks and marked a significant moment in France’s biggest criminal trial in contemporary history. But the questioning of the 32-year-old French Moroccan also appeared to show the limits of how much closure the proceedings can bring to some of the victims and their relatives.
Though Abdeslam is charged with murder, prosecutors assert that he abandoned his plans to kill after his explosive vest malfunctioned. On Wednesday, he suggested he backtracked because he saw himself reflected in people sitting at a cafe. He spoke of “a moment of doubt [before] blowing yourself up.”
“I wanted to say today that I didn’t kill anyone, and I didn’t hurt anyone. I didn’t even make a scratch,” Abdeslam said.
There was no indication of remorse. Instead, he accused people of “slandering” him and said his treatment in prison made him question, “Did I do the right thing to go back, or should I have gone all the way?”…
Abdeslam is accused of being part of a team of 10 attackers who deployed a mix of explosives and assault rifles Nov. 13, 2015, as they targeted the Bataclan theater, the national stadium where then-President François Hollande was attending a soccer match, and several cafes and restaurants.
Nine of the attackers died at the scene. More than a dozen other people are on trial alongside Abdeslam but are charged with lesser crimes. Six defendants are being tried in absentia — five of those presumed dead in Syria or Iraq and one imprisoned in Turkey.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for what amounted to France’s worst post-World War II attack.
On Wednesday, Abdeslam proclaimed: “I support the Islamic State. I am in favor of them. I love them.”…
ScienceABC123 says
“I wanted to say today that I didn’t kill anyone, and I didn’t hurt anyone.”
From the Muslim point of view, all non-Muslims are mere animals (i.e. not human), and can be slaughtered unless they pay the jizya (protection) tax.
mortimer says
Agree with ‘Scienceabc123’. This jihad-supporter and caliphate-lover Salah Abdeslam is one of the 15% of Muslims who self-declare as supporters of terrorist groups. However, less than 1% of Muslims actually have the guts to become real jihadists.
Muslims may cheer for the jihadists from the sidelines, but don’t usually want to risk their life in Western countries.
In court, Salah Abdeslam pondered whether getting minimally involved was worth going to jail. He openly asked whether he should have become an all-out jihadist.
Salah Abdeslam is about as close as you can get to the definition of ‘traitor’. He was in a plot to blow up the French president.
John says
Someone should Whitey Bulger/Jeffrey Dahmer him in prison.
mortimer says
In prison, the Muslim mob will protect him. He is a hero.
OLD GUY says
He’s right he didn’t hurt anyone, as Islam claims that if you are not a follower of Islam you are nothing and should be destroyed if not usable to muslims. Question is who’s rule of law will the French follow, theirs or Sharia which would make this guy a hero.