al-Qaeda's Maghreb group out to reclaim Europe's Granada

When we talk about al-Qaeda, it is almost always crucial to keep in mind that this is a 'global' entity. They seek havens in Swat, in Yemen, in Somalia or in any region they see fit. We have not paid particular attention to them in the Maghreb (the area comprising Algeria, Tunisia, Lybia and Morocco) because their attention appears to be focused on Europe. However, we did report on an unfortunate experiment with germ warfare with which al-Qaeda bungled. See article here.From Beirut, Chawki Freïha reported that al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (QJMI - ??????? ????? ?????? ????????) announced the creation of an audiovisual production subsidiary with exclusive right to distribute their press releases. The choice of title, "Al-Andalus" is not accidental: it is a call to jihad for the liberation of Andalusia. Andalusia is the name for what we now know as Granada, which 'fell' to Christians in 1492 (see the Spanish Inquisition).
Further, The QJMI deplores 'the regression of jihad since the fall of Granada (Andalusia) in 1492, which allowed the Crusaders and the Jews to occupy Palestine, Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan.' According to the text, 'since the Sykes-Picot, the West has installed allied regimes to continue to control the region.' What is interesting about this statement, is that the period preceding the inquisition is oftentimes referred to as Spain's Golden Age, when Jews and Muslims co-existed and collaborated on significant cultural and societal advances.
Citing Algeria as an example, the statement noted that 'power is based on the clerics of service to distort religion and make true Muslims into tyrants and mujahideen into terrorists.' He added that 'the regime [Algeria], controlled by the descendants of colonial France, also relies on journalists who are bought to obscure reality and present victories of oppresive military forces, whereas they should be failures.'According to experts, this release is a direct appeal to North African Muslims to raise jihad awareness. However, it is also, and especially an indirect call to Muslims in Europe, especially Spain, to free the Andalusian . As of 2008, the Muslim population of Europe was slightly over 57 million people. The release comes on the heels of the arrest of two brothers of Algerian origin who were arrested in Vienna on suspicion of links to the QJMI and terrorist intentions. The eldest of the two is a physicist who worked at the European Center for Nuclear Research in Switzerland (hence its danger). Though the article questions the Muslim's loyalty to their adopted country, there is no doubt that the majority of Muslims in Europe continue to be loyal to their country of origin. H/T http://www.examiner.com/x-2086-Foreign-Policy-Examiner~y2009m10d11-alQaedas-Maghreb-group-out-to-reclaim-Europes-Granada