In a recent public address, Libyan Leader Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi called to wage Jihad against Switzerland and called upon Muslims to boycott Swiss products, airlines, shipping companies, and embassies.
"Switzerland is an infidel and sinful country which destroys mosques. Jihad, with all possible means, should be declared against it," said Al-Qadhafi, waging in on the controversy over the ban on building minarets in Switzerland. He called upon the Muslim masses to head towards all the airports and sea ports in the Islamic world, and prevent any Swiss plane from landing and any Swiss ship from coming in, as well as removing all Swiss products from the shops and markets. "If Switzerland were situated on our border, we would fight it", he proclaimed before a cheering crowd.
Al-Qadhafi blasted the Islamic world, which, he said, watched from the sidelines while "they portrayed the Prophet Muhammad in their newspapers in the most abominable way." He said: "Any Muslim who buys Swiss products... or has any dealings with Switzerland is an infidel against Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, Allah, and the Koran... If you continue to have dealings with Switzerland... you are not Muslims."
The address was delivered before heads of state and representatives of many African and Islamic countries, including Chad, Chechnya, Mauritania, Somalia, the Comoros Islands, Benin, Lesotho, the Central African Republic, Pakistan, and Turkey, as well as leading religious dignitaries from around the world.
Al-Qadhafi's relations with Switzerland have gone sour in the past. In July 2008, his son Hannibal was arrested in Switzerland on charges of assaulting two servants, and only when Al-Qadhafi threatened to stop fuel supplies to Switzerland was Hannibal released from jail.
To view excerpts from this address, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on February 25, 2010, visit http://www.memri.org/legacy/clip/0/0/0/0/0/0/2401.
"If Switzerland Were Situated on Our Border, We Would Fight It"
Mu'ammar Al-Qadhafi: "We will not give up Jihad, because it is a religious duty. Jihad constitutes a religious duty and self-defense. It is the defense of the religion, fighting for the sake of Allah, defense of the Prophet Muhammad, of the Koran, of the mosques, defense of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and of our independence. As for terrorism – we all reject it. We also reject the confusion between Jihad and terrorism. This should be made clear.
"Terrorism, which is perpetrated by the so-called Al-Qaeda, and by the death squads, which Ayman Al-Zawahiri claims to be heading – this is a kind of crime. It is a mental illness. [...]
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"Whoever destroys the mosques of Allah before the eyes of the Muslims is worthy of having Jihad launched against him. If Switzerland were situated on our border, we would fight it, for destroying the mosques of Allah. Jihad against those who destroy the mosques of Allah and their minarets is [true] Jihad, and not terrorism.
[...]
"What is the meaning of 'wage Jihad with your property and your souls'? It means Jihad, not terrorism. It means that you wage Jihad against Switzerland, against Zionism, and against foreign aggression, with your property, if you cannot do it with your soul. Does this constitute terrorism? It does not.
"Jihad must be clear. The sacred Palestinian struggle constitutes Jihad. This is not terrorism. Like the difference between heaven and earth is the difference between the struggle of the Palestinians and terrorism."
[...]
Boycott "Switzerland... an Infidel and Sinful Country Which Destroys Mosques"
"Any Muslim who buys Swiss products is an infidel. Let Muslims all over the world know this. There are people here from all over the Islamic world. Any Muslim anywhere in the world who deals with Switzerland is an infidel against Islam, Muhammad, Allah, and the Koran.
"Switzerland is an infidel and sinful country which destroys mosques. Jihad, with all possible means, should be declared against it. Boycott Switzerland, its products, its planes, its ships, and its embassies. Boycott this sinful infidel community, which attacks the mosques of Allah.
"They portrayed the Prophet Muhammad in their newspapers in the most abominable way. Yet the Islamic world watches from the sidelines. You think that you are still Muslims? No, you're not. Your Islam is in doubt. You need to reexamine your Islam, your faith.
"If you continue to have dealings with Switzerland, and the people who portrayed the Prophet Muhammad in the most abominable way in their newspapers... If you continue to have dealings with them, to buy their products, to support them, to accept their tourists, to accept their planes, to accept their ships, and to host their embassies – you are not Muslims."
The Muslim Masses Must Prevent Swiss Planes from Landing and Swiss Ships from Coming in
"Any Muslim must boycott them. The Muslim masses must head towards all the airports in the Islamic world, and prevent any Swiss plane from landing. They should head to the ports, and prevent any Swiss ship from coming in. They should comb the shops and markets and remove the Swiss products.
"Allah said: 'Let them find harshness in you.' Instead, they find flexibility and submission in you. You have nothing to do with Islam whatsoever." [...]
"The Christianity of Africa Is Not Really Christianity"
"The Christianity of Africa is not really Christianity. This is merely what Colonialism taught them at school. They taught the children some rites, but it has no roots in Africa. Jesus was not sent to Africa. The same goes for Latin America. Spain and Europe conquered Latin America, and taught them all this."
