Religious scholars urge GSPC leader to release hostages

A group of Salafist scholars fom the Maghreb called on the so-called the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) to release two hostages.

• According to a joint statement, the preachers said Abu Qatada was the theorist of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) led by Antar Zouabiri while the GSPC is asking Britain to free him in return for releasing the hostages.
• This comes after scholars from the Middle East asked Abdelmalek Droudkel nicknamed Abu Musab Abdelouadoud the GSPC’s leader, Hamdou Abdelhamid nicknamed Abdelhamid Abu Zid in charge of kidnapping foreign tourists to stop their acts as they have nothing to do with religion.
• “We call on you brothers to release the hostages who have nothing to do with your business and to treat them well.”
• “Kidnapping foreigners does not serve Islam but it gives a bad image about Muslims in the world,” they added.
• The Salafist preachers quoted to back their call the guidelines set by most prominent religious scholars including Ibn Baz, Al Albani, Ibn Alottaymine, Abderrahmane Ben Djabrine and cheikh Abu Basir Atartousi.