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February 25, 2011 Special Dispatch No. 3620

In Second Installment of 'Message of Hope and Glad Tidings to Our People in Egypt,' Al-Qaeda Deputy Leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri Denies Al-Qaeda's Involvement in Alexandria Church Bombing, Calls Upon Muslims To Differentiate Between Christians

February 25, 2011
Special Dispatch No. 3620

On February 24, 2011, Al-Qaeda's media wing Al-Sahab released the second installment of an audio recording from the organization's second-in-command, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, titled "Message of Hope and Glad Tidings to Our People in Egypt." In his message, which is 35 minutes and 48 seconds in duration, Al-Zawahiri reiterates some of the points he made in his first installment, but the majority of his message is focused on the Coptic-Muslim sectarian tension in Egypt.

Referring to the New Year's Day bombing of Saints Church in Alexandria, Al-Zawahiri denies any Al-Qaeda involvement in the attack, instead pointing an accusing finger at Coptic leaders in Egypt, as well as at the Egyptian regime and its security apparatuses. It is these, he said, with the U.S. behind them, that are behind the continuous provocation of Muslims in Egypt - which is, he said, is what led to the church bombing.

Aside from providing historical and political background on Egypt, similar to what he gave in the first part of his message, Al-Zawahiri makes several noteworthy points:

Al-Zawahiri began his message by re-emphasizing the legitimacy of targeting Muslims - or, more correctly, the restrictive circumstances under which Muslims may be targeted. He added that harming Muslims must be avoided during mujahideen operations unless the requirement of jihad makes it necessary for them to become targets, or to be collateral targets. ...

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