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Osama bin Laden issued two Fatwas, one in August 1996 and the other in February 1998.
1996 Fatwa (Ladanese epistle) Osama bin Laden issued a Fatwa in 1996 titled "Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places." From the 1996 Fatwa: "It should not be hidden from you that the people of Islam had suffered from aggression, iniquity and injustice imposed on them by the Zionist-Crusaders alliance and their collaborators; to the extent that the Muslims blood became the cheapest and their wealth as loot in the hands of the enemies. Their blood was spilled in Palestine and Iraq. The horrifying pictures of the massacre of Qana, in Lebanon are still fresh in our memory. ... The people of Islam awakened and realised that they are the main target for the aggression of the Zionist-Crusaders alliance. All false claims and propaganda about "Human Rights" were hammered down and exposed by the massacres that took place against the Muslims in every part of the world." 1998 Fatwa In February 1998, another Fatwa was issued that was signed by Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and others. Published on the 23rd February in the Al-Quds Al-Arabi independent newspaper, it lists three grievances, the U.S. occupation of the Arabian Peninsula, the devastation of the Iraqi people and humiliation of their Muslim neighbours and thirdly, U.S. support of Israel. December 1998 Interview On 23rd December 1998, Bin Laden was interviewed by Time Magazine. When asked whether he was responsible for the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in August 1998, he responded: "The International Islamic Front for Jihad against the U.S. and Israel has issued a crystal-clear fatwa calling on the Islamic nation to carry on jihad aimed at liberating holy sites. The nation of Muhammad has responded to this appeal. If the instigation for jihad against the Jews and the Americans in order to liberate Al-Aksa Mosque and the Holy Ka'aba Islamic shrines in the Middle East is considered a crime, then let history be a witness that I am a criminal." See also | ||||||||
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