While cleaning out my files, I found the below OSC translation from early 2008. I have posted other OSC translations of related material in the past, but this one is something I hadn't seen before, or just forgot about.
There are several different analytical interpretations of Sayyid Imam's recent Revisions. My sense is that it's less than it looks, but there are persuasive arguments to the contrary. I'm not denying that Imam's revisions hurt AQ, they certainly have. However I am reluctant to finalize any conclusions on his work, because we have very little reliable information at this time on what the real impact -- if any -- he will have on AQ's stream of money and men. It will take some time. I hope I'm wrong.
As for now, here's a little fuel for the analytical fire.
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On 5 February, a jihadist website posted a statement issued by the Al−Nida Media Center entitled "The Allegations of Human Rights in Egypt, " condemning the human rights situation in Egyptian prisons and the violations that are taking place to persuade the proselytizer shaykhs to endorse Sayyid Imam's 'Revisions and Rationalizations.' The author portrayed the Egyptian Security Service as pro−American and pro−Zionist and of practicing the worst means and methods to curtail the Islamic Dawa in the land of Egypt. The statement, dated 28 January, is signed by the Al−Nida Media Centre."
A translation of the statement follows:
In name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
'And they ill−treated them for no other reason than that they believed in Allah, Exalted in Power, Worthy of all Praise'. (Koranic verse; Al−Buruj 85:8) "Praise be to God, prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of God, his family
and companions.
"For a long time, the Egyptian security services were accustomed to pursuing the monotheist mujahidin and their supporters. The sharia outlaws (Egyptian security service) applied all pursuit methods of prosecution and oppression against the people of monotheism, Dawa and Jihad.
"We have only seen them (security service) protecting the Zionist border, preventing the mujahidin from going there and guarding the leaders of the Zionist entity who arrive in the land of Egypt.
"We are not accustomed to seeing anyone of them (security services) moved by Muslim zeal and pulling out and directing their firearm toward the Zionists who arrive and walk safely in the land of Egypt, while its monotheist people are deprived of (such privileges) such as the captive Shaykh Umar Abd−al−Rahman, may God set him free, and the mujahid Shaykh Dr. Ayman al−Zawahiri and the immigrant mujahid Shaykh Muhammad Khalil al−Hakaymah and other sons of Egypt.
"There is no doubt that the pro−American and pro−Zionist security services have conducted over the years, the worst intelligence means and methods to curtail the Islamic Dawa in the land of Egypt.
"This became crystal clear when the non−believing Egyptian organs (security services), executed the proselytizer Shaykh Sayyid Qutb and his colleagues, may God have mercy on them. The security services also pursued and tortured the proselytizer Shaykh Abd−al−Hamid Kishk, may God have mercy on him, and the captive Shaykh Umar Abd−al−Rahman, may God set him free.
"Today we see the determination of these organs to continue to meddle with the constituents of Dawa and Jihad, to prevent the nation from its glorious history and to guarantee that it will not return to its forthcoming caliphate.
"The apostate Egyptian security services are continuing in the application of their cheap methods to curtail the Islamic Dawa, through what are known as the Revisions and lately the Rationalizations (of Jihad). These organs took advantage of the psychological conditions, detention and captivity suffered by our mujahidin brothers in the prisons of the tyrant of Egypt. They intended to entrench in their minds the concept of 'Revisions and Rationalizations' to implement their malicious scheme to lead astray the Salafi Muslims of the right path, by tempting them with release from prison, non−pursuit and other
(temptations).
"The captive brothers, may God set them free and break their chains, whom God made steadfast of those who are holding embers in the palms of their hands, declared their position and refused (to cave in) by rejecting both the Revisions and the Rationalizations, while some surrendered under the pressure of pain and detention. They (the rejectionists) announced clearly, that there are no Revisions or Rationalizations with the tyrant's soldiers, and called for the need to complete the path of Dawa and Jihad to confront the American Zionist arrogance, to liberate the hol y sites, to ensure the release of all prisoners and detainees in the tyrants' prisons all over the world, and the application of Islamic Sharia over the entire world.
"Detained and suffering brothers:
"Despite the Egyptian regime's recent media uproar in stressing its respect for human rights, they continued their pressure and harassment policies against those rejecting Sayyid Imam's revisions. The security forces in Egypt deported all Islamist detainees from the Al−Marj prison − in which some service projects will soon be opened − to prevent the detainees from meeting with representatives of human rights organizations, or any media outlets and thus revealing their views in rejection of those Revisions and in which their views are being forged.
"Recently, the security services conducted nightly inspection campaigns and removed a number of the rejectionists to the state security slaughter house at its main headquarters, (among them) Shaykh Ahmad Ashush, Muhammad al−Maghriby and Amin Mishaly from Al−Wadi al−Gadid prison, and Muhammad Hijazi and Abd−al−Munim al Daydamuni from Natarun Wahid prison, and Jalal Abu−al−Futuh and Tariq Abu−al−Azm from the maximum security prison in Abu−Zabal.
"These measures come within the framework of the voice silencing policy, especially after the request by Shaykh Ahmad Ashush to debate Sayyid Imam on the air. The statement issued by Shaykh Muhammad Hijazi in which he exposes the malicious role played by Muntasir al−Zayat in the conspiracy of Sayyid Imam
(The statement is: "Muntasir al−Zayat and the issue of penetration from within, " by Shaykh Muhammad Hijazi − may God protect him.). Until now, visitations are not allowed to the Liman Abu−Zabal prison, the maximum security (prison) at Abu−Zabal and the Turah prison, so as to isolate them (the detainees) from the outside world and force them (to endorse) the Revisions.
"Monday, 20/01/1429 corresponding to 28/01/2008
"Markaz al−Nida al− I'lami
"Source: Al−Nida Media Centre