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The recent demonstrations organized by the Al-Ittihad leadership in Mogadishu and the call for Jihad against foreign peace keeping troops proposed by the Federal Transition National Government was a clear manifestation of their extremism . The concept of jihad ranges in definition from the personal struggle against temptation to holy war. No holy war needs to be waged in Somalia; there is no clear and present threat to Islam; the only war that needs to be waged is one against extremists like Al-Ittihad. Their earlier abortive militia campaigns to take over parts of Somalia, including Bossaso and Laskorey were shameless perpetration of crimes carried out in the name of Islam. Their current occupation of parts of Mogadishu and periodic pillaging forays into many parts of Southern Somalia is an example of their un-Islamic methods. This is time for all Somalis to expose that Al-Ittihad has taken roots in Mogadishu and the Shabella area. More importantly, we need to realize that Al- Ittihad in Mogadishu and Minnesota are misleading people, especially those who are not aware of the consequences of fanaticism. Those loyal to Al-Ittihad leader, Mr. Aweis have created hatred and sectarian violence. We cannot afford to have lawlessness in such a big area where foreign terrorists can easily penetrate. So far, very few Somalis choose to speak up against Al-Ittihad and some said that they have faced threats of violence and accusations of being anti-Islam. In effect, the message disseminated by Al-Ittihad is that merely discussing Al-ittihad Political agenda to be construed as an attack on Islam. The root cause of Al-Ittihad ideology is a desire to create a Muslim fundamentalist state, like the former Taliban government in Afghanistan. Their perception is based on the idea that the Muslim community has strayed from God and if they were to turn to Wahabism and its strict interpretation of Islam based on Sharia (Islamic Law), the problems of the Somali people would be solved. Hence, they have established the Mogadishu Islamic courts to dispense their harsh reading of “Islamic” justice. It is this mentality of fake exactitude that spurns the true Islamic tenets and replaces it with paranoia, ignorance, fear, and a rejection of centuries of Islamic scholarship that inspires Al-Ittihad's political goals. It seems to me that the agenda of the Somali community in Mogadishu has been hijacked by Al-Ittihad radicals, causing sympathy in the community towards terrorist organizations. We need to cooperate and support the newly formed Federal Transitional Government. We cannot allow Al-Ittihad extremists to blackmail Islam and derail our last hope for a genuine secular government. Mohamed Jibrell Minneapolis, MN
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