Osama bin Laden dead: What jihadi websites are saying
Online supporters of Osama bin Laden and his campaign of global jihad reacted with confusion, sadness, and often anger following the news that Osama bin Laden is dead, killed by US special forces in Pakistan Sunday. Here is a sampling of four ways commenters on pro-jihadi websites responded – translated by Aaron Zelin, a researcher at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., and operator of his own website that studies Islamic radicalism online, Jihadology.
Osama bin Laden is seen at an undisclosed location in this television image from Oct. 7, 2001 file photo. (Al Jazeera/AP/file)
1. Skepticism
• "How sound is the news of the martyrdom of Sheikh Osama bin Laden?"
• "We ask God to be the news is not true Lord of the Worlds."
• "This has not been confirmed by the Mujahideen. Whatever the outcome Usamah bin Laden is the most influential man of our times and May Allah accept all his sacrifices ameen."
• "No conclusion should be derived until we get word from Muslims who are affiliated with him and who can confirm so. No words should be taken from the enemies of Islam and Muslims. They faked so many videos in the past of him, so why can this not be one of them?"
