Excerpt:
Moazzam Begg, a former Guantanamo detainee and director of Islamist group Cageprisoners, objected to the killing of Osama bin Laden in an op-ed in the Washington Post. Although Begg portrays himself as a civil rights activist, his organization has been more of a lobby on behalf of terrorists. The group even recently featured an article celebrating the mock death of President Obama.
Begg is quick to explain he was "not [a] member of al-Qaeda and did not agree with its methods," but says that the U.S. is "distorting the bin Laden narrative somewhat." He cites others' quotes about bin Laden's "piety, generosity, personal bravery, strategic ability, charisma and patience," and declares that "such characteristics can be admirable in any human being."
What Begg leaves out of his op-ed is his connection to other al-Qaida leaders, as well his organization's support for extremist positions. Cageprisoners' primary role is advocating on behalf of Islamists that it perceives are victims of Western injustice. Its most recent focus campaigns include al-Qaida trainer Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi, convicted terrorist Aafia Siddique, and al-Qaida ideologue Abu Mus'ab al-Suri, whose writings on strategy are incorporated into issues of al-Qaida magazine Inspire.