A last extended interview with Janjalani - INQUIRER.net, Phil...

Abu Sayyaf was the nom de guerre of my late brother. He copied it from Abdul Rasul Sayyaf, an Afghan mujahideen (fighters for jihad) who became famous for his practice of beheading traitors to the Taliban—whether Muslim or Christian. Much later, we were infiltrated by government spies. Then, because our boys beheaded our enemies that deserve beheading, the Marines under General (Guillermo) Ruiz called us ASG --perhaps referring to us as the “group of beheaders.”

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OD: Are you admitting now that ASG is a terrorist organization?

KJ: Not what they mean. We are mujahideen, albeit a bit brutal since we don’t distinguish oppressive soldiers from its public or citizenry -- they are generally our enemies. And we cannot soften up or become friends even with Arabs (e.g. in the OIC) if they are in league with our enemies.

OD: Why, what’s so different with the groups of Jamal Khalifa or Ramzi Yousef (personalities linked to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda) that you befriended them?

KJ: Jamal Khalifa was a philanthropist who helped Moro and other mujahideen in this world. Our friendship with them is dictated by necessity, convenience and the need to help one another. They needed at that time volunteers for Afghanistan, while we need money to buy arms, ammunition and other necessities to fight the oppressive government. Ramzi Yousef came later through Khalifa. We reciprocated their assistance by providing them volunteers, to include our visit to Afghanistan.

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OD: Is it allowable for mujahideen to kidnap? On what basis?

KJ: Whether philosophically or religiously, it is allowed. There is basis for kidnappings. Philosophically, if it is allowed to kill the enemy, why not allow to just kidnap him? Religiously, no less than the Prophet of Islam who gave the order to kidnap or seize the caravan of Abu Suffian, isn’t it? So, what is the difference of kidnapping or seizure then and now?

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