Assassination of bin Laden Violates International Law

Tareq Al-Zumar, the leader of the Islamic Jihad Movement, asserted Monday that Islamic Jihad, which was a principle branch of al-Qaida in the past, has stepped back [from violent means] and devoted itself to peaceful work in society.

Al-Zumar added during [an interview] with the Al-Jazeera that the operation that led to the assassination of al-Qaida’s leader Osama bin Laden is [evidence] of U.S. disregard for both international law and the sovereignty of Pakistan, [and that bin Laden should have been] brought to trial.

The leader of Islamic Jihad said, “Our group differs a great deal with the U.S. in its so-called War on Terror. Just the same, it opposes the operations that al-Qaida has undertaken around the world.”

At the same time, Tariq Al-Zumar asked that the U.S. withdraw from Afghanistan in the wake of Osama bin Laden’s death, [saying that] the U.S. has always used [the hunt for bin Laden] as a pretext for remaining there.

Last month the Egyptian authorities released Abboud Al-Zumar and his cousin Tariq Al-Zumar after 30 years in jail on the charge of assassinating former president Mohammed Anwar Sadat in the famous “dais incident” on Oct. 6, 1981.