(Gatestone Institute) Raymond Ibrahim - Hours before Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was sidelined by the military council, Muhammad al-Zawahiri, Egypt's al-Qaeda leader, declared that the terrorist organization would wage a jihad to save Morsi and his Islamist agenda for Egypt. According to a July 2 report, "al-Qaeda, under the leadership of Muhammad Zawahiri, is currently planning reprisal operations by which to attack the army and the Morsi-opposition all around the Republic [of Egypt]." The report adds that Zawahiri had been arrested and was being interrogated - only to be ordered released by a [Morsi] presidential order. He has since fled to the Sinai, where al-Qaeda is stationed. In the context of all these threats, many Egyptians are understandably worried. This may also explain why so many leading Islamists - including Morsi himself - have been arrested and held by the military, on the charge of inciting Muslims against anti-Morsi demonstrators, by portraying them as "apostates" who must be fought and killed for trying to resist the implementation of the Sharia of Allah. It may be that they are also being held as hostages to dissuade al-Qaeda from waging an all-out jihad. It is folly to think that Morsi, the Brotherhood, and all their Islamist and jihadi allies are going to go peacefully. Now that the Islamists have tasted power, it is unlikely that they will quietly release the reins of power without a fight.
2013-07-05 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive