on the unlawful assassination of awlaki
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8/4/2019 On the Unlawful Assassination of Awlaki
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Media Release:
On the Unlawful Assassination of Awlaki
U.S. and Yemeni officials confirmed that Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen, was killed in a
CIA-led strike that teamed with U.S. Joint Special Operations Command. Reports are that, the
operation was carried out by the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden.
Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is holding in contempt and condemning with scorn
the actions of the Obama administration on the unlawful assassination of our beloved brother
Anwar Al-Awlaki and is asking that the Peoples Partnership Government; the Foreign Ministry
in particular demand that the United States provide a full explanation and to justify their actions.
If the United States does not comply, we insist that this Government cut all diplomatic relation
with the Obama administration until such time as they do.
The 5th Amendment to the Constitution explicitly declares that "No person shall be held to
answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of aGrand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual
service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person . . . be deprived of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law." Awlaki, who was not a member of the U.S. armed forces,
was not afforded these rights. It is unequivocal the United States has blatantly ignored the Fifth
Amendment.
One of the greatest values of our countries is that every human being is entitled to a free and
fair trial.Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) is disappointed that the United States
government has increased this sort of extra-judicial killing without referring to the legal system
and so should the Government of this country. These drone attacks have no legal justification ininternational law and have killed thousands of innocent people, including children. It is time for
the Obama administration to restore justice and the rule of law.
It would be a mistake for this Peoples Partnership to furnish with power or authority the
President of the United States any President or Prime Minister with the unreviewable
power to kill any citizen whom he/she deems to present a threat to the country.
Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front) strongly objects to any President or Prime Minister
institutionalizing a policy that explicitly says he/she has the authority to target citizens because
he/she believes they are bad people. Bad people should not be protected because they deserveit. Bad people are protected on the presumption of innocence and taken through the proper
process because innocent citizens should never be treated in this manner. This is something
that is major in many ways about following the rule of law.
The prospect of putting citizens on a government hit list should give this Peoples Partnership
pause as a duly elected Government; not for what they might do with such power, but for what a
Government 5 years down the road might do with it.
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Its sad that this Government would blindly and casually accept the United States President in
the wrongful assassination people whom he feels are bad guys. Our beloved brother was
simply ordered killed by the President of the United States: his judge, jury and executioner. If
the president of America can order the assassination of Awlaki simply by declaring him an
enemy combatant, who can't he kill?
The implications of this debate are not trivial: Imagine that Venezuela started killing individualsliving in Trinidad and Tobago with remote-controlled drone missiles, and argued that it was
justified in doing so because it had determined, in secret, that they posed a threat toVenezuelas security, and that Trinidad and Tobago was unwilling to turn them over. Would wecalmly pronounce such actions compliant with the rule of law? Not too likely
In international law, where reciprocity governs, what is lawful for the goose is lawful for thegander. And when the goose is the United States, it sets a precedent that other countries maywell feel warranted in following.
Again we call on this Peoples Partnership to take a lead role in condemning the actions of theObama administration in the unlawful assassination of our beloved brother Awlaki or face totalresentment by the Muslim Community.
We end by saying: They have touched our hearts with an intention to stop it from beating but
our hearts will continue to beat a rhythm that will not only touch their hearts as well but will infect
it with a disease that they themselves created; a disease that will make them delusional; and
before they realizes it, they will be extinct.
For Immediate Release: April 20, 2012
Umar Abdullah
Head of: Waajihatul Islaamiyyah (The Islamic Front)
Tel:1 (868) 787-0765/365-6253
Fax:1 (868) 631-8597
Email:[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]