The mainstream media in the West have been reluctant to mention Islam when discussing the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka, which killed at least 359 people at churches and hotels. In fact, they have been loath to refer to religion at all, preferring to identify the victims as “Easter worshippers” rather than “Christians”.
Despite the fact that the incident had nothing to do with Islam or any other religion, a video has surfaced of the conspirators — at least some of whom were suicide bombers — pledging fealty to Caliph Abu-Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State.
At the end of the video the terrorists recite “Allahu Akhbar” in unison, which intelligence analysts believe to be an Arabic phrase that means: “We fear unemployment, are concerned about climate change, experience social marginalization, and feel discriminated against.”
Many thanks to Ibn Al-Malek for the translation, and to Vlad Tepes for the subtitling:
Video transcript:
| 00:00 | We offer our loyalty and accept the authority of… [others repeat] | |
| 00:04 | the Prince of all Believers… The Caliph [successor of Mohammed] of the Muslims… | |
| 00:09 | Sheikh… Abu Bakr… al-Baghdadi… …the Koreishi [tribe of Mohammed]… the Husseini | |
| 00:14 | [lineage of Hussein Ibn Ali, successor of Mohammed]… …to listen to… and obey him… | |
| 00:18 | …in joyous times [of gaining booty in battle]… ;… and in difficulty [dying in battle]… | |
| 00:21 | … in hard times… and in good times… …and place him above ourselves… | |
| 00:27 | …and not dispute his deserved authority… | |
| 00:32 | …unless we see clear and undisputed evidence from Allah of kufr [infidelity, unbelief]… | |
| 00:41 | …and Allah is our witness to what we say… | |
| 00:45 | Takbir… Allahu Akhbar. Takbir… Allahu Akhbar. Takbir… Allahu Akhbar. |
allahu fubar!