Internet Sites Unveil Belhadj Acquaintances with El Qaeda

The terrorist organization, now known as ...El Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb... has announced the forthcoming publication of newsletters by the former leader of the dissolved Islamic Salvation Front ...FIS..., Ali Belhadj, under the title ...Why we boycott?.... The organization adds that other entries will be published soon.

• As a result, and through the publication of these bulletins, the terrorist organization confirms the existence of a relationship with Ali Belhadj. According to observers, the permanent contact between Ali Belhadj and the organisation is the fact that the organisation is aware of everything that Belhadj makes or says. The latter has become subject of interest for dissident groups (Khaouaridj), through his venomous publications and praising terrorist groups through his speeches and newsletters intended primarily to terrorist elements.
  
  In both entries Belhadj, as said in the Site of the terrorist organization, the first bulletin entitled “Why we boycott?”, criticises the statements by the minister of religious affairs in which he encourages citizens to take part in political life for the interest of the nation.
  
  In the second report which is a continuation of “Why we boycott”, Belhadj calls for the use of mosques to encourage people to disobedience, calling on imams to revolt against the regime and stop denouncing terrorists. “Some imams denounced the brothers who do not share their ideas ad convictions,” he said, insinuating the terrorists who have repeatedly tried to exploit the mosques’ Minbars to call people to rebellion and use them as a means for recruiting new terrorist elements in the name of religion and Jihad.
  
  Belhadj always signs as vice-president of the Islamic Salvation Front ‘FIS’. Defending those who have opted for a boycott, he says “Considering those who call for a boycott as demons is the policy of traitors and Kofr in the name of nationalism. He added that what is happening in Algeria is not terrorism, but recognizing that what they do is similar to what had been done by ‘Al Khaouaridj’ at the time of Ali Ben Abi Taleb.
  
  Abou Abdallah Ghelam Allah, Minister of Religious Affairs and Wakf, in a statement to Ennahar said he “refuse to respond to statements by a person such as Ali Belhadj,” because, according to him “he is someone who does not even deserve that”. He added that people such as Ali Belhadj “should not be judged on what they say because they know not what they say.”
  
  ”The mosques are open to all,” said the minister, “they were never forbidden to people, but they can not be exploited by some for personal goals that might harm”. “The mosques will always be open to all those who want to unite the Muslim nation but not for those who want to divide it,” he added.
  
  On elections and political participation, the minister said “the call of the imams to participation in political life is not propaganda or election campaigns. It is a call for people to practice their national rights.
  
  
• Ennahar / Dalila B