By Dr. Tawfik Hamid
Dr. Hamid, an instrcutor with the CI Center, is a Muslim reformer and author of “Inside Jihad.”

Few hours ago, CNN has reported that Adam Gadahn, also known as Azzam the American, appeared in a video that has been made available on the internet. Gadahn was portrayed as though he had offered ‘condolences’ for innocent victims, as seen in the text below.

“On the heels of a U.S. announcement of a massive troop surge for Afghanistan, an al Qaeda spokesman Saturday appeared to be trying to improve the group’s image in the region with a new audio message in English. Adam Gadahn, also known as Azzam the American, appeared in a 17-minute video released on Islamist online forums late Friday, offering condolences to the families of innocent people killed in al Qaeda attacks.”

Note: For the complete CNN text, see http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/12/12/afghanistan.alqaeda/index.html

It is important to note that the title used by the CNN for this topic could be perceived by many as a positive step by Al-Qaeda, yet careful observation and analysis of what has been said clearly reveals that the condolences were ONLY offered to Muslims and non-Muslims were not included (see Adam Gadahn’s video statement below).

“We express our condolences to the families of the Muslim men, women and children killed in these criminal acts and we ask Allah to have mercy on those killed and accept them as shohadaa [martyrs],” he says. “We also express the same in regard to the unintended Muslim victims of the mujahedeen’s operations against the crusaders and their allies and puppets, and to the countless faceless and nameless Muslim victims of the murderous crusades” in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Waziristan regions and Swat Valley, and elsewhere.”

The title that fits more with what Gadahn has actually said is “Al Qaeda offers ‘condolences’ ONLY for Muslim victims” rather than “Al Qaeda offers ‘condolences’ for innocent victims”.

Sincere condolences should be offered for all innocents who are killed irrespective of their faith. The message of Adam Gadahn was portrayed as if it is a good thing, yet in actuality it only confirmed that many Islamists do not see a need to offer condolences for innocent victims if they are non-Muslims. Failure to include non-Muslims in the condolences indicates serious disregard for the lives of non-Muslims.

Undervaluing the lives of non-Muslims, which is taught widely within mainstream Islamic jurisprudence and various Sharia books, is one of the main factors that leads some devout Muslims to develop the mind of a terrorist that does not show respect for human lives of the ‘others’.