(LWJ) — Nasir al Wuhayshi, the leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), pledged bayat, or an oath of fealty, to Ayman al Zawahiri, the new leader of al Qaeda’s central command. Wuhayshi also vowed to fight until Sharia law is imposed across the globe.
Wuhayshi’s oath was issued in the form of a videotape that was released today by the Al Malahem Foundation, AQAP’s propaganda outlet. The videotape was distributed to al Qaeda-linked jihadist forums and has been translated by the SITE Intel Group.
Zawahiri replaced Osama bin Laden after he was killed by US special operations forces during the May 1 raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. In mid-June, al Qaeda officially announced that Zawahiri replaced bin Laden as the terror group’s emir.
Wuhayshi pledged that he and the AQAP fighters under his command would follow Zawahiri’s orders and fight “the enemies without leniency or surrender until Islam rules.” Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is consider by the US to be one of al Qaeda’s most effective affiliates, and it controls large areas in Yemen.
“I give you allegiance of obedience in good and hard times, in ease and difficulty, in following the Book of Allah and the Sunnah [traditions] of Allah’s Messenger, Allah’s peace and prayer be upon him, and in fighting the enemies of Allah as much as I can — myself and the your loyal soldiers who are with me in the front of the Arabian Peninsula,” Wuhayshi said according to the SITE translation. “You will only see from us honesty and patience in time of afflictions, sympathy with the righteous friends, and toughness with the enemies without leniency or surrender until Islam rules, with help and power from Allah.”