24/04/2006 DCFHR/PR 24/06

The Only Worthy Action in Darfur is to Defend Those Suffering and to Bring the Perpetrators to Justice.

In his statement of 23/04/2006 Osama bin Laden -the leader of Al Qaeda - proved once again how far his organization is from reality and how little regard they have for human life.

In his statement yesterday, he claimed that Jihadists should stand against any attempt of the U.N. to send a peacekeeping force to the area. Calling the U.N. an infidel body, he said "I call on the mujahideen and their supporters in Sudan …and the Arabian peninsula to prepare to wage a long-term war against the Crusaders in western Sudan," (Reuters, 24/04/06). Referring to the C.P.A, he warned the Sudanese administration about signing an “unjust agreement”. He also commented on the fact that the administration has failed to enforce sharia law across the country. These comments show a blatant disregard for the Muslim people of Darfur. It also serves to underline his disingenuousness, when he claims to defend the rights of Muslims.

In Darfur, where an estimated 400,000 have been killed, Bin Laden is using the religious notion of Jihad to whip up ethnic and religious strife. This is all the more perplexing when Darfur is home to some of Sudan’s most devout Muslims.

Darfur Centre for Human Rights emphatically rejects this call for Jihad in Darfur. We believe that the only worthy action in Darfur is to protect the civilians and to bring justice to the victims of the crimes committed there. The last thing the victims of Darfur need is more death and destruction; more fanatics looking for a manufactured notion of the clash of civilizations to operate in the region

The international community needs to act decisively to protect the innocent civilians in Darfur by transferring the existing AU mandate to a U.N. international peace keeping force without delay. This force must operate with a clear mandate to protect the innocent civilians; to bring harmony, tranquility and peaceful coexistence for all in the region of Darfur.

Darfur Centre for Human Rights and Development is an organization established in the U.K in 2004. If you have any questions about this or any other DCFHR&D information, please contact the address shown.

Darfur Centre for Human Rights & Development
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