Hong Kong: An al Qaeda footage has shown Warren Weinstein, the director for US-based consultancy who was kidnapped in Pakistan last year, for the first time since his kidnapping, appealing US President Barack Obama to respond to the demands of the kidnappers.
The two minute, 40 minute video was posted by as-Sahab, as Qaeda’s media arm, on jihadist forums Sunday, according to the US monitoring service SITE.
However, there is no indication of when the video was made.
Weinstein, wearing shalwar kameez, told his wife in English, “I’m fine, I’m well, I’m getting all my medications, I’m being taken care of.”
Weinstein was kidnapped from Lahore on August 13.
He was country director for US-based consultancy J.E. Austin Associates, which does contracting work with the US Agency for International Development.
He suffers from asthma, heart problems and high blood pressure.
Al Qaeda demanded release of Omar Abdul Rahman, Ramzi Yousef and Sayyid Nosair from US custody.
Al Qaeda had also demanded the release of the family of Osama bin Laden.
“If you accept the demands, I live; if you don’t accept the demands, then I die,” Weinstein told Obama in the video.
In a video message posted on militant websites in December, al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri said Weinstein would be released if the United States stopped airstrikes in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia and Yemen. He also demanded the release of all al Qaeda and Taliban suspects around the world.
The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant messages, said Al-Sahab, al Qaeda’s media arm, posted the Weinstein video on jihadist forums Sunday.
“It’s important you accept the demands and act quickly and don’t delay,” Weinstein said in the video, addressing Obama. “There’ll be no benefit in delaying; it will just make things more difficult for me.” He also appealed to Obama as a father. If the president responds to the militants’ demands, Weinstein said, “then I will live and hopefully rejoin my family and also enjoy my children, my two daughters, like you enjoy your two daughters.”
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription