Following are excerpts from a statement by Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, which was posted on the Internet on September 27, 2012.
Click here to view this clip on MEMRI TV.
Bin Laden Was "A Sensitive And Emotional Guy... A Joker Who Liked A Good Laugh"
Ayman Al-Zawahiri: "I was reminded of Sheikh Osama bin Laden's ties with the Islamic organizations. As I have said before, he was a sensitive and emotional guy. Sheikh Osama bin Laden was also a bit of a joker who liked a good laugh and would make everybody around him happy. Let me talk about this aspect of Osama bin Laden's personality."
Bin Laden Would Say, "I Used To Belong To The Muslim Brotherhood, But They Banished Me"; He Was "A Member Of The Muslim Brotherhood In The Arabian Peninsula"
SUPPORT OUR WORK
Al-Zawahiri: "Osama bin Laden would say: 'I was banished from my own organization. I used to belong to the Muslim Brotherhood, but they banished me.'
"Bin Laden was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Arabian Peninsula. When the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, he immediately went to Pakistan, got to know the mujahideen, and assisted them. The instructions he received from the Muslim Brotherhood were: "Do not go beyond Lahore. Go to Al-Jama'a Al-Islamiyya in Lahore and deliver the aid. They will pass it on, and you return."
"Bin Laden went there, of course, but he was not satisfied with the instructions so he moved on to Peshawar and to the mujahideen. He joined them, began to work with them, and entered Afghanistan. The Muslim Brotherhood warned him about entering Afghanistan: 'We told you not to go anywhere but to Al-Jama'a Al-Islamiyya in Lahore, yet you went to Peshawar, and from there entered Afghanistan. If you, as a Saudi, got arrested in Afghanistan, the Russians will start a big diplomatic problem with the Saudi government. It is a complicated story, but the bottom line is that you cannot fight jihad in Afghanistan. Your jihad is just to provide funds in Lahore.' Bin Laden responded: 'That won't do.' So they said to him: 'You're banished,' and he said: 'Fine.'"
"After Bin Laden Was Banished From The [Muslim Brotherhood] He Became The Unifying Figure Of The Islamic Organizations"
"Allah granted him victory in jihad. After bin Laden was banished from the [Muslim Brotherhood] he became the unifying figure of the Islamic organizations. He became popular and widely accepted among the Muslims and the mujahideen." [...]
"After bin Laden rose to fame, Sheikh Mustafa Mashour, General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, went to Peshawar for a visit and met Sheikh Osama bin Laden. Bin Laden told us that Mashour had said: 'Osama, you left your brothers. Come back to your brothers.' Bin Laden politely declined, saying: 'By now I've become acceptable to all the Islamic movements, and this helps me in my work.'" [...]
