Via SITE Institute:

The Army of Islam [Jeish al-Islam], a jihadist group operating in Gaza, issued through the Global Islamic Media Front to jihadist forums today, Friday, June 1, 2007, a 5:39 minute video featuring captured BBC reporter Alan Johnston, in which the captive gives a speech addressing the alleged crimes of Britain and the West against Muslims, specifically Palestinians.The group had previously issued a statement on May 9, 2007 with an accompanying video showing only Johnston’s ID, claiming his capture and giving as demands for his release Muslim prisoners in British prisons, in particular, Sheikh Abu Qatada al-Filistini.Johnston was reported captured on March 12, 2007.

In the video, Johnston states that he has been treated well by his captors.He then talks in the regard of Palestinians, claiming that in his three years in the Palestinian Territories he has witnessed their continuing economic and physical suffering at the hands of Israel, then informs that the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan is much worse.Johnston then points to the British government, stating: “In all this we can see the British government endlessly to occupy the Muslim lands against the will of the people in those places.From history the British worked to brings about the state of Israel which is the cause of all the suffering of the Israeli Palestinian people and we, the British, are completely to blame along with the Americans for the situation in Iraq, and the British are the main force in Afghanistan causing all the trouble to simple, ordinary Afghans who simply want to live.”

This is certainly good news, especially after reports in April that Alan had been killed by his captors. What's ironic is that the kidnappers abducted a reporter who probably believed all the sob stories about the poor suffering Palestinians and tried to present them in the most sympathetic light during his tenure in Gaza. I can't wait to see what he has to say when he is finally free. As always, continued prayers for his safety and release.

Complete transcript of the video below the fold. Transcript: the Alan Johnston video

First of all, my captors have treated me very well. They've fed me well, there's been no violence towards me at all and I'm in good health.

In three years in the Palestinian territories, I've witnessed the huge suffering of the Palestinian people and my message is that their suffering is continuing and it is unacceptable.

Every day there are Palestinians arrested, imprisoned for no reason. People are killed on a daily basis. The economic suffering is terrible, especially here in Gaza where there's an Israeli [inaudible]

People here are in despair after more than 40 years of Israeli occupation which has been supported by the west. The situation in Iraq is even worse - we see every day maybe 100 or more Iraqis being killed in the violence there which followed the failed invasion of Iraq by America and Britain.

Ordinary people who are losing everything can't live their lives normally, not just because of the violence but because of the shortage of everything they need for normal lives, for bringing up their children.

Afghanistan - the situation, again, terrible. You see on your television screens the suffering as the armies of Britain and America attack. In all this we can see the British government endlessly working to occupy the Muslim lands against the will of the people in those places.

In history, the British worked to bring about the state of Israel, which is the cause of all the suffering of the Palestinian people, and we, the British, are completely to blame, along with the Americans, for the situation in Iraq.

And the British are the main force in Afghanistan causing all the trouble to ordinary simple Afghans, who simply want to live.

To my family, my family [Mr Johnston's words are cut off]

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