Jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim has condemned the Sept 11 attacks in New York City and Washington DC, stating that the attacks that killed at least 6,000 innocent people had resulted in millions of other Muslims to become the objects of hatred and being profiled as potential terrorists.

"The attacks must be condemned and the condemnation must be without reservation. All efforts to punish the perpetrators must be supported," wrote Anwar in the Oct 15 edition of the weekly Time magazine.

In his article titled, 'Who Hijacked Islam? Repressive Muslim regimes are partly to blame for bin Laden's rise', Anwar said that this was the first time in the history of Islam that the actions of so few followers have caused the religion and its community of believers to become such an abomination in the eyes of others.

As such, he added, he was perturbed by the confusion among Muslims who "responded with a misplaced diatribe against the United States".

Anwar is serving a 15-year jail term after being found guilty of committing sodomy and abuse of power. He was charged in court after being sacked from the government in September 1998 on "moral grounds".

All-out war

The US, with a strong global backing especially from its allies from Europe, has launched attacks into Afghanistan on Sunday and followed it up yesterday. Afghanistan has been targeted because the Taliban regime has been playing host to the main suspect for the Sept 11 attacks, Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden and his network of terrorists, and had refused to hand him over to the US.

Immediately after three of the four hijacked planes had crash-landed into the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, US president George W Bush had called for an all-out war against terrorists and countries that harbour them.

Following the attacks, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said that the government was against any war against any Muslim nation as "war against these countries will not be effective in fighting terrorism".

The premier said that the problems that provoked these terrorists to act in such a violent manner must be looked into.

'Not a time for moralising'

Anwar said that the government-controlled media here had been "deployed to stir up anti-American sentiments, while members of the political elite use a different language for international diplomacy".

The sacked deputy prime minister said that this was not the time for sermonising or moralising over US foreign policy, especially over the Palestine issue.

Anwar also lambasted Osama for using his wealth to sponsor terror and murder, rather than promoting pious foundations supporting universities and hospitals.

"Osama and his proteges are the children of desperation. They come from countries where political struggle through peaceful means is futile. . .these people need space to express their political and social concerns. But state control is total, leaving no room for civil society to grow," reasoned Anwar.

Anwar suggested that a proper orientation must be developed for Muslim societies to address their internal social and political development.

"Of greatest urgency is the effort to inculcate an intellectual and political orientation that promotes democracy and openness. Intellectuals and politicians must have the courage to condemn fanaticism. . .and in the same breath, equally condemn the tyrants and oppressive regimes."

Be wary of autocrats

He added that the Muslim world will support the US call to eradicate terrorism but warned that there will be countries that will use this opportunity to "prop up their regimes and deal a severe blow to democratic movements".

"Russian president Vladimir Putin will use it to defend atrocities in Chechnya, Israel to defend its intransigence and Malaysia its detentions without trial," Anwar said.

The Time magazine article said that Anwar's essay will be part of a defamation lawsuit which Anwar plans to file against the government over a television broadcast which labelled him as an Islamic extremist and a threat to the national security.

On Sept 25, Anwar had sent a letter of demand to the director-general of Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Information Minister Khalil Yaacob and the government over two TV programmes that had allegedly defamed him.

Anwar is seeking an apology and a RM100 million compensation from the parties concerned, failing which he would file a suit against them.