Reuters
The Independent [UK]
26 February 2010
Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi called yesterday for a “jihad” or armed struggle against Switzerland, saying it was an infidel state that was destroying mosques.
“Any Muslim in any part of the world who works with Switzerland is an apostate, is against (the Prophet) Mohammad, God and the Koran,” Gaddafi said during a meeting in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi to mark the Prophet’s birthday.
“The masses of Muslims must go to all airports in the Islamic world and prevent any Swiss plane landing, to all harbours and prevent any Swiss ships docking, inspect all shops and markets to stop any Swiss goods being sold,” Gaddafi said.
The Swiss Foreign Ministry said it had no comment on Gaddafi’s remarks.
Libya’s relations with Switzerland broke down in 2008 when a son of Gaddafi was arrested in a Geneva hotel and charged with abusing domestic servants.
He was released shortly afterwards and the charges were dropped, but Libya cut oil supplies to Switzerland, withdrew billions of dollars from Swiss bank accounts and arrested two Swiss businessmen working in the North African country…
..”There is a big difference between terrorism and jihad which is a right to armed struggle,” [Gaddafi] said.
Gaddafi accused Switzerland of being an “infidel, obscene state which is destroying mosques”, in reference to a Swiss referendum verdict barring construction of minarets.
He called for a “jihad against it with all means”…
Swiss nationals voted 57.5 percent in favour of the minaret ban in the Nov. 29 referendum backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party…
The complete article is available at The Independent.
