memri
November 10, 2011 Special Dispatch No. 4267

'Occupy Wall Street' – Reactions and Support in the Arab and Muslim World, Part VII: Morocco-Based American Jihadist Yousef Al-Khattab Tells 'Occupy Wall Street' To 'Keep Up the Good Work'

November 10, 2011
Special Dispatch No. 4267

American-born jhadist Yousef Al-Khattab, co-founder of Revolution Muslim – the group that, according to CNN, inspired "a wave of homegrown American jihadists,"[1] once said that he loved Osama bin Laden "more than I love myself."[2] However, in an apparent reversal, in late 2010 Al-Khattab claimed that he regretted his previous activity, and, while underlining that some of his previous statements, including his message condoning the Fort Hood shootings, had been taken out of context, he stated, "My intention was not at all to inspire somebody ... to do an act like that."[3]

According to his website, Al-Khattab departed Gaza for Morocco in 2006,[4] and he currently maintains a YouTube page, YousefRants, and a website, Yousefalkhattab.com.

In a clip posted October 10, 2011 on both his YouTube page and his website, Al-Khattab addresses the Occupy Wall Street protestors. In his address, he dissociates himself from Revolution Muslim, claims not to believe in democracy, and says that "for the first time in 43 years, I'm proud of something that the Americans have done... Keep up the great work with what you are doing." (To view this clip on MEMRI TV, visit http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/3183.)

In the "comments" section of the clip on Al-Khattab's YouTube page, viewer AbdulMumeete1970 criticized Al-Khattab's reversal, and Al-Khattab defended his decision.

The following is the transcript of the clip; following that is the discussion between Al-Khattab and AbdulMumeete1970 on Al-Khattab's change of direction.




YouTube Clip, October 10, 2011

Al-Khattab: "Hello, Occupy Wall Street. My name is Yousef Al-Khattab, and I'm the former co-founder of RevolutionMuslim.com, which I have nothing to do with, and had nothing to do with when they did the whole South Park thing – whatever that was all about.

"I have to say honestly that for the first time in 43 years, I'm proud of something that the Americans have done. I am an American national. I live overseas, I live in Morocco now. I left... That's a whole story in itself... But I just want to say: Keep up the great work with what you are doing.

"I'm not a Democrat, I'm not a Republican, and I'm not even a believer in democracy, but the United States was founded on the constitution, and it should be held to that and be accountable to that constitution.

"I think you are the first people to really nail it. The problem is Wall Street, the problem is the bankers, and the problem is the media. The message that you are giving out is the whole reason that I wanted to start the organization "Revolution Muslim," which was for the Muslims and to build a bridge between the Muslims and the thinking Americans as well, but it didn't go in that direction, it just attracted a lot of rubbish – in the most part not all.

"It backfired in our faces. Many people got arrested, and I would warn you to be careful not to fall into the same mistakes. Be careful who is your spokesperson. Be careful who you allow to represent you. For example, I wouldn't want people to say that Yousef Al-Khattab – me – is behind... is part of the Occupy Wall Street movement, although I am in my heart, and if I was in the States I would at least support you, and if had money I would definitely support you, God willing.

"But you are going to have a lot of people who don't like what's going on in the United States. Some of them are absolute whackos, white supremacists. Some of them are a mix of white supremacists and 9/11 Truthers. Some of them will never accept that fact that maybe somebody was a Hebrew there by you, and say that the head of this Occupy Wall Street, or the co-founder, was Jewish – then it is a Jewish conspiracy.

"I had it double hard because my family are of Hebrew descent, and they didn't know this, but my grandfather was a 32nd-degree Freemason – how about that? I didn't even know it until my father told me so.

"All these little things they're going to dig up on you, and they're going to throw it at you, and play the conspiracy card, etc. etc.

"I just want to tell you that you're doing a fantastic job. Keep up the great work. Yesterday I saw what you did to Geraldo Rivera. I once said that... They called me up from Judge Napolitano's show once on CNN. I was excited to speak to him because he's a constitutionalist, and I happen to respect him. At the last minute he didn't show up, and they put Geraldo on. He's one of the biggest pigs that I've ever met in my life. Geraldo – whatever his name is... Goldstein... They turned my mic off and just let him try to whip me with his tongue. You can find "Geraldo Rivera and Yousef Al-Khattab" on YouTube.

"Anyway, keep up the good work. I'm very proud of y'all. If I can, I'll try to send support your way, by anyone who is on my Facebook page. Thanks so much for all you're doing. I appreciate it. Cheers."

Al-Khattab, Viewer Abdul Mumeet 1970 Discuss Al-Khattab's Reversal

Abdulmumeet1970 comments: "I may be a piece of shit but at least I'm not begging everybody around me for forgiveness for my so called past sins and trying to sound moderate while everybody from the Kuffar to your sufi butt buddies is still accusing you of Taaqiyah. You are in the wrong country Yusuf, I'm sure the Saudis would pay you millions to head their radicalization reprogramming schemes as you are clearly display the fastest case of Salafi burnout in history."

YousefRants replies: "Just make Mubahala on your claim that is all I ask. When the JDO came to my former home I was in Morocco. I left on Dec 20, 2009 and posted that when I fond out about knowing where I used to live. The JDO is the weakest link. You are correct @ the end of the day it makes no difference to me. BTW you are a piece of shit."

Abdulmumeete1970: "doesnt matter if it was illegal or not, it was enough for the JDO to make life very hard for you and thus the reason why you had to run away with your tail between your legs. It was better if you behaved yourself in the begining and not set out to become an Islamic Justin Bieber seeking attention at every turn."

YousefRants: "Alhumdulilah today I still speak but not on behalf of Islam. I follow a madhab, have a proper aqeedah that I can defend, and graduated from Culinary College alhumdulilah. I am no longer interested in ITS, RM,IA or any strain of Wahabism. I suggest you spend your time watching ur fingers from the lies and errors u are promoting & remember the day when ALL will be clear. Fiamanillah"

YousefRants: "You will also note that all other cases of 'brothers' being arrested & linking to RM will not state 'Yousef was the blame,' because most have been recorded mocking me when I told them to cool out, or stay away from us. I am not super Jew that walks away w/o punishment, but I am not the one that broke any laws either. I am the one that went on CNN & publicly stated our message was wrong & RM, MoJO etc should be avoided, while ur ilk mocked me on IA. So there is a big difference."

YousefRants: "I was the one that as soon as [Zachary] chesser and that Bilal kid started to post said PULL IT and warned them, that is a documented fact. The Federal charges against Younes are based on that incident where Chesser ADMITS guilt and they claim they recorded Younes in email assist in justifying the illegal act Chesser confessed to. That is Younes job to answer for not me because I had no connection to RM at the time."

YousefRants: "My breaking with RM was b4 any JDO rally, b4 South Park, b4 the MoJos changed the RM site to there platform. All is documented online & I still stand by all that u mentioned. I don't run from what I said, I denounce the filthy minhaj I was upon and the people I was associated with. You r welcome to send Younes $ I don't say not 2, don't expect me to help & don't make it sound as if it was I that assisted in his arrest."

YousefRants: "I suggest that you make Mubahala on your theory since you have posted it on IA. That is the best way to conclude. So to sum up in reality the whole RM amirship that Younes asked me to take when I did not want it was a mistake. The soldier video and repost of the Tuskin Raiders both were done b4 RM & I had told Younes I was to high profile & flamboyant for his academic message. The author of the Juice is a member of IA forum and very well respected in ur circles. I suggest u troll him"

YousefRants: "I remember and still have the the Liberty movie picture with me smiling (not illegal),Tee Juice was your buddy from Queens and another young man that held similar views as you. I have a pic of me with a knife to a box of Jooz brand Orange Juice (not illegal),the mocking of a occupation soldier was me and that was pre RM and that was not illegal, the Daniel Pearl video I found on Youtube and reposted it the original is still up today (not illegal). The JDO & Jawa never scared me."

AbdulMumeet1970: "so you dont remember posing in front of a picture of the statue of liberty being cut with an axe while having a sarcastic smile on your face or the so called "Kill the Juice" nonsense and your low budget Daniel Pearl mockery, I dont think the ADL liked that one, .Oh how can i forget how you tortured a doll pretending it was an American soldier. Come on man, :) looks like the JDO and Jawa really spooked you out. Some mujahid you were. Maybe you should have behaved yourself"[v]

Endnotes:

[1] According to CNN, in the 18 months prior to December 2010, "eight of 27 reported cases of homegrown terrorism saw U.S. terror suspects frequenting, blogging on, or directly linked to Revolution Muslim and the Islamic Thinkers Society -- another extremist New York group that al-Khattab played a role in." CNN, December 09, 2010. For more on Revolution Muslim and those involved, see MEMRI Inquiry and Analysis No. 649, " Part V: YouTube – The Internet's Primary and Rapidly Expanding Jihadi Base: One Year Later on YouTube – Anwar Al-Awlaki's Presence Expands, Al-Qaeda Goes Viral, Jihadists Post Thousands of Videos of Killing of U.S. Troops; European Jihadists Also Embrace YouTube," December 10, 2010, Part V: YouTube - The Internet's Primary and Rapidly Expanding Jihadi Base: One Year Later on YouTube - Anwar Al-Awlaki's Presence Expands, Al-Qaeda Goes Viral, Jihadists Post Thousands of Videos of Killing of U.S. Troops; European Jihadists Also Embrace YouTube.

[2] CNN, December 9, 2010.

[3] CNN, December 9, 2010.

[4] Yousefalkhattab.com, April 4, 2006.

[5] All comments are as they appeared in the original English.

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