The ‘Islamist’ Shaykh Ali Goma on Jihad & Martyrdom Operations

Today, Tuesday April 22^nd, 2008, is an historic day, an historic moment, for today we shall remember when former Muslim radical extremists formed a coalition to eradicate extremism amongst the Muslims living in the U.K. Sir Eddy and Nawaz [MBE, sorry not sir yet!], two ‘giants’ amidst the ‘secular Muslim radicals’ will intellectually obliterate the ‘islamists’ ideology of the majority of Muslims residing in the U.K.

How will they accomplish this agenda? By building rehabilitation and de-radicalisation centres all over the U.K. Well, they need support from the Muslims and grass root Muslim organisations. I very much doubt they will be welcomed by the vast majority of Muslim organisations. I mean, why would they when Sidi Eddy has labeled all of them ‘extremists’ and also excommunicated [takfir] many of them. I put it to you is this attitude not a sign of a angry radical waiting to be unleashed?

Ladies and gentlemen, it has been said that those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it. Many have embarked upon such tasks all over the world with the backing of neo-con extremists and without any support from the Muslims or intellectual credibility; we wait to see what will materialise.

If this is the best what the neo-con can muster up, then I say to them the Muslims are not so immature. They will not be fooled. We all need to tackle extremism, it a duty of all Muslims living in the U.K. However, I do not think that ex-extremists are quite apt for the job.

The infamous Quilliam foundation has made many blunders; first the name itself. It is named after William Quilliam, an ‘islamist’ himself calling for the Khilafa or the Islamic state. To get some sort of legitimacy they put up names of some renowned international scholars such as Shaykh Bin Bayyah [an Islamist scholar], who has no idea of who they are. Other names were put up and subsequently taken off apparently due to ‘doctrinal disputes’, namely Dr Yahya Mischot, Shaykh Abu Laith Maliki, Shaykh Abdus Subhan and others. They were most probably hoodwinked into it [Allah knows best], even one of their initial key member Dawud Masieh left the organisation, I wonder why?

Anyways, we can raise many issues but allow me to draw the reader’s attention to another prominent scholar whom they have listed in their web site, Shaykh Ali Goma, who apparently has given ‘ample guidance’. I am very doubtful if he knows who or what they really stand for. Let us quickly enquire into some of his opinions and ask Sidi Eddy, is he not an ‘islamist’ in his eyes?

Shaykh Ali Goma’s views on the Palestine Jihad? [Source: Click here]

In an interview with an Egyptian paper “Al-haqiqa” in July 2003, Sheikh Ali Goma was asked a number of questions regarding Palestine. He also made some statements regarding the issue which were reported in al-Hayat newspaper on the 30th September 2003.

When asked about the rule of an Egyptian man illegally entering Palestine and carrying out a ‘martyrdom’ operation without the express permission of the head of state he replied that “he is a Shahid [martyr], because Palestine is a special case and not the ordinary case existing in the world… This is because in Palestine there is an enemy that rules the land. This rule is considered a crime by international conventions and resolutions… The world has let the Jews spread corruption throughout the land and they have succeeded in obtaining international legitimacy to territories that were conquered after 1967…Israel is a special case that does not exist [anywhere else] on the face of the earth. We are facing a criminal occupation that is the source of terror.”

When asked about the explicit ruling on “martyrdom” operations he replied that “The one who carries out Fedaii [martyrdom] operations against the Zionists and blows himself up is, without a doubt, a Shahid [martyr] because he is defending his homeland against the occupying enemy who is supported by superpowers such as the U.S. and Britain.”

His opinion of Israeli Civilians?

In the same interview, referenced above, he was then asked regarding the rule regarding differentiating between civilian and non civilian targets replying that

“The Zionists themselves do not differentiate between civilian and military personnel. They have set the entire people to military service. The civilian settler who occupies land in a state of war is a Harbi [that is, a non-Muslim living in an area regarded as 'Dar Al-harb,' the 'domain of war,' in which Islam does not dominate]. Besides, everyone in Israel, civilians and military personnel, bear arms. That is, they are ‘Ahl Al-Qital’[that is, those who deserve to be fought].”

Various other questions and answers from the same interview include:

Question: “Do you differentiate between operations carried out within the 1948 borders and operations carried out within the 1967 borders?” Sheikh Goma: “Even Zionists do not differentiate. They occupied the entire territory. We differentiate when there is a difference, [but] there is no difference between Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Hebron.”

Question: “Is it permitted to kill an Israeli traveling outside the borders of his land?” Sheikh Goma: “Yes, it is permitted to kill him, because he is a Harbi [combatant] and the Harbi spreads corruption throughout the face of the earth.”

Question: “Even if he is wearing a diplomatic uniform, for example?” Sheikh Goma: “He can wear a diplomatic uniform as much as he likes, but his blood is permitted. But permitting his blood does not mean that he must be killed; it only permits his killing.”

Poor Sidi Eddy, better luck next time mate!