Bin Laden warns France in newly released recording

Al Qaida leader tells France not to intervene in Muslim affairs in Africa and says French nationals deserve to die for banning veil.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
bin laden 9\11 tape 224 (photo credit: IntelCenter)
bin laden 9\11 tape 224
(photo credit: IntelCenter)
Al Qaida leader Osama Bin Laden released a new audio recording on Wednesday, saying that the abduction of five French citizens in Niger was a result of France's treatment of Muslims.
In the audio recording, which was released to Al Jazeera, Bin Laden told france to stop "intervening in the affairs of Muslims in North and West Africa."
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"The subject of my speech is the reason why your security is being threatened and your sons are being taken hostage," he said.
"The taking of your experts in Niger as hostages, while they were being protected by your proxy [agent] there, is a reaction to the injustice you are practicing against our Muslim nation."
Al Qaida claimed responsibility for kidnapping five French nationals in Niger, as well as two others in Madagascar and Togo, in September.
Bin Laden then added: "How could it be fair that you intervene in the affairs of Muslims, in North and West Africa in particular, support your proxies [agents] against us, and take a lot of our wealth in suspicious deals, while our people there suffer various forms of poverty and despair?"
The al Qaida leader also criticized the recently-passed French law to ban the wearing of facial veils in public.
"If you unjustly thought that it is your right to prevent free Muslim women from wearing the face veil," Bin Laden asked, "Is it not our right to expel your invading men and cut their necks?
Bin Laden also demanded that France withdraw from the Afghanistan, and said that there would be more kidnappings if the country does not heed his warnings.
Earlier this week, a NATO official told CNN that Bin Laden is not living in a cave, as previously thought, but is likely living comfortably in a house in Pakistan, along with other top al Qaida officials. The official said Bin Laden probably residees in the Kurram Valley, near Tora Bora.