"Our stand on this issue, as with any, is based on Islamic Law, and we call on all to abide by the Shariah. There is no possibility of us changing our position on this."

[Mullah Muhammad Omar, Ameer-ul-Mumineen of Afghanistan and leader of Taliban]

One of the primary reasons for the current World isolation and UN sanctions on Afghanistan is their refusal to hand over Usama bin Ladin to America to stand 'trial' for crimes that he has not committed.

The issue of Usama bin Ladin and the refusal of the Taliban to hand him over to America despite isolation and sanctions from the whole World is a proof of their sincerity to uphold the Islamic Shariah whether the enemies of Islam like it or dislike it. Under the Islamic Shariah, it is forbidden for a Muslim to hand over another Muslim to a kafir (disbeliever) whatever the reason and whatever the circumstances. Handing over a Muslim to a kafir is equivalent to taking sides with disbelievers against Muslims, which is one of the ten things that nullify a person's Islam and make him into an apostate.

Therefore, even if the strategic interests of the Taliban lie in handing over Usama bin Ladin to America, they are bound by both the Islamic Shariah and their Aqeedah (Islamic creed) and cannot do this as it amounts to a transgression in the principles they stand for and are calling the people to. A country implementing Shariah is supposed to be a safe-haven for any Muslim in the World fleeing from oppression or persecution for his religion. The Saudi Arabian Government 'revoked' the Saudi nationality of Usama bin Ladin in 1994 and thus he became a refugee in Sudan. Two years later, he was expelled from Sudan and became a refugee in Afghanistan. What type of Shariah is it that fails to protect the lives and well-beings of Muslim refugees from their enemies? Why did Usama bin Ladin go to Afghanistan? Because that was the only country in the World where he could be safe from the persecution he was facing for his religion.

And which nation is it that has labelled Usama bin Ladin a terrorist and a criminal for allegedly causing the deaths of a few dozen Americans?

Is it the same nation that was the only nation in history to use atomic weapons in anger, when it dropped two nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, killing over 220,000 Japanese? Weren't those people human beings as well? Or do Japanese not count as human beings like Americans do?

Is it the same nation that 'mistakenly' dropped a laser-guided bomb on an Iraqi refugee shelter killing over 2000 Muslim women and children, 'mistaking' it for an Iraqi Command and Control Centre? Were these people not human beings?

Is it the same racist nation that, not so long ago, oppressed black people for decades, such that there were 'whites-only' and 'blacks-only' sections on public buses? The same nation whose foundations were built on racism, oppressing a people because of their skin colour?

Is it the same nation that has imposed over ten years of sanctions on Muslim babies and children in Iraq, killing over ONE MILLION innocent babies due to lack of medicine and nutrition?

Is it the same nation that built and supported a terrorist state, by the name of Israel, and continues to send it billions of dollars of its taxpayer's money every year, to commit genocide of children under 16 and women?

Does this hypocrite nation have the right to call anyone a terrorist just because they condemn its unjust practices?

It is very clear to any intelligent individual, Muslim or not, that it is not possible to plan and execute bombings of embassies and ships sitting in a barren country thousands of miles away with no telephone lines, broken highways and where most of the population gets its electricity from diesel generators. Since Usama bin Ladin is the only Muslim brave enough to speak out against American Zionist oppression, he is the most convenient person to point the finger of blame at whenever anything happens to any American or Jew anywhere. Do the those fighting Islam not understand that when they oppress the followers of the World's second largest religion, a religion with over 1.2 billion adherents, they will make millions of enemies, and that someone somewhere is going to do something about it, which will cause loss of life to their own soldiers and citizens.

Usama bin Ladin has repeatedly denied involvement in the 1998 twin-Embassy bombings the more recent bombing of the USS Cole warship. It is incumbent upon every Muslim to take his word for that. Furthermore, to show the hypocrisy of the Zionist American Goverment and to prove to the World that they wish to make peace and resolve matters, the Taliban have repeatedly asked for America to provide them with evidence that Usama bin Ladin was responsible for these acts so that they can put him on trial in Afghanistan if need be (it is out of the question in the Islamic Shariah to extradite him to stand trial by disbelievers, under man-made laws).

The Afghans are a warrior Muslim nation that have survived colonialism for centuries. More recently, they withstood a decade of conventional and chemical attacks by the Soviet Red Army. Still, this did not turn them away from their religion and their principles. Does the World really think that some minor economic sanctions here and there, together with some inconvenience, will bend the Afghans to compromise? The Taliban leadership are unlike tyrants like Saddam Hussain, who continues to enjoy designer suits from Paris whilst his people die under sanctions. Rather, they live on the bare necessities themselves (in the footsteps of the Prophet (SAWS) and his noble companions) and live on much the same that their people live on.

Perhaps the statement of 28 July 2000 by Mullah Muhammad Umar, Ameer-ul-Mumineen of Afghanistan can clear the matter if there are still doubts in the hearts of the Muslims and non-Muslims

Taliban chief rules out change in Osama policy

ISLAMABAD (NNI): Taliban supreme leader Mullah Muhammad Omar has ruled out any change in Taliban policy about Osama bin Laden, saying expulsion of the Saudi millionaire will tantamount to leaving a pillar of our religion.

"Our stand on this issue, as with any, is based on Islamic law, and we call on all to abide by the Shariah. There is no possibility of us changing our position on this," Mullah Omar said in first issue of Taliban magazine The Islamic Emirate.

"But we remain open to try Osama or any other individual under Shariah if sufficient evidence is brought to warrant a trial. Therefore, it is for the accusers to back up their claims," the Taliban chief said.

He said extraditing Osama bin Laden, who made Jihad against the Communists for the duration of their occupation of Afghanistan, is tantamount to leaving a pillar of Islam. "We see as the only possible means of resolving the problem, a conference that would be comprised of Islamic scholars from Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and a third country, which would decide the issue in accordance with Shariah," he proposed.

Asked if Afghan soil is being used for training terrorists Mullah Omar said, "There are no terrorist training camps in Afghanistan, and we do not permit any individual or organization to use our soil as a base of operations against any country." He said his government wants security and stability for all nations of the world, adding the Islamic Emirate assures the international community that it will not allow Afghan soil to be made a base for any terrorist action against anyone.

Questioned whether he foresee future American strikes, and if America struck again, how would the IEA respond, he said Taliban dont expect the American government to repeat such illegal actions, actions that violate all international norms of conduct, as well as the charter of the UN. "But if America were to decide to attack again, then that would be their loss. It is our advice to them to consider the consequences of their actions."

Asked about his reaction to the threats being made by the Russians, Mullah Omar said there is no apparent purpose in Russia attacking Afghanistan, adding the threats seem to be rather weak. "What seems evident is that Russia wants to curry favor with the former Soviet Republics of Central Asia (by backing them in their fight against "extremism"), and towards that end. Vladimir Putin is making use of American propaganda against Afghanistan. If that is their real goal, as we believe, then it is unlikely that they will carry out their threats."

"Of course, in the unlikely event of an attack on Afghanistan, we will not hesitate to defend ourselves," he said and warned the countries that border Afghanistan not to allow their soil to be utilized as a base for any activities against the Islamic Emirate. "As for the relationship between America and Russia, it is clear that the two powers have combined to form an anti-Afghan alliance."

Asked as why Taliban government recognize Chechnya, he said, "Extending recognition to Chechnya was our Islamic obligation. We are not sorry for what we have done, because we took that step based on what the Shariah requires from us, and its not for the Muslim to apologize for acting on his religious duty. Our recognition of Chechnya is compulsory under Islamic Law." He said Taliban provide the Chechens with moral and political support only. "In our current situation, we are not able to do anything more than that, as Afghanistan is herself faced with internal and external problems."

Questioned that UN and most of the countries of the world do not recognize the Taliban regime even though it controls 90 percent of Afghanistan, Mullah Omar said that according to the UN's own 'rules' Taliban fulfil all the prerequisites for international diplomatic recognition and membership in the United Nations. "We would like a just, balanced relationship with the international community. However, their refusal to work with us does not change the fact that the Islamic Emirate is blessed with a strong, proud people who will not fail us, who will stand by us at every turn".

Asked about the UN sanctions, he said sanctions are nothing new to the Muslim nation. "We believe that we are on the path of truth and that Allah will make victorious." He said the economic curbs that have been set upon Afghanistan by the Security Council are illegal and unjustified, and stem from the American Government's undue influence on the Council's decisions. "These restrictions serve only to further harm the oppressed people of Afghanistan, who have been victimized by 20 years of continuous conflict."

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