Online jihadist calls for Muslims to kill David Letterman
Published: August 17, 2011
UPDATED AUG. 17, 3:36 P.M. EDT
WASHINGTON -- An internet jihadist has called upon American Muslims to kill comedian David Letterman.
Seriously.
The threat comes from Umar al-Basrawi, a frequent contributor to a major Islamic jihadist forum, whose most recent online post asks American Muslims to “cut the tongue of this lowly Jew and shut it forever," according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a private company that monitors online jihadist traffic.
Apparently, Basrawi didn't appreciate a joke that Letterman, who is not Jewish, made about Ilyas Kashmiri, a senior al-Qaida leader reportedly killed in an airstrike, and his former boss, Osama bin Laden.
"He said that Kashmiri was killed in an airstrike in Pakistan (the news was not yet reported about the leading mujahideen, and Allah knows best)," the message said. "Then, he showed his evil nature and deep hatred for Islam and Muslims, and said that Ilyas Kashmiri was killed and he joined bin Laden. Then the despicable one put his hand on his neck and demonstrated the way of slaughter!! Meaning that the Americans slaughtered Mullah Ilyas Kashmiri (we ask Allah to protect him), just as they slaughtered before him Sheikh Usama bin Laden (may Allah have mercy on him).
"We ask Allah to paralyze his tongue and grant the sincere monotheists his neck. O Allah, amen."
A spokesman for Letterman declined to respond to the jihadist's threat.
"The Late Show" is currently on hiatus.
