Jamaa Islamiya Hopes Obama Would Release The Blind Sheikh
By
CBS Investigates
/ CBS News
(al Jama'a al Islamiya )
The Egyptian group al Jama'a al Islamiya released an Internet statement expressing satisfaction at Barack Obama's victory in the U.S. presidential election. The formerly militant group listed three reasons for welcoming Obama's election. The group argued that electing a man reflects values that were deeply rooted in Islam. It also said Obama's election puts an end to the "Bush era" and finally, it gives the group home that Obama might consider releasing Omar Abdel Rahman, the group's spiritual leader who is now serving time in the U.S. for his involvement in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.
