Media & Mass Communications: What does the death of Osama bin Laden mean for the Arab world?

By MUSTAPHA AJBAILI


Arab news media have reacted to the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden with considerable speculation on its consequences in the Arab and Muslim world.



While most of the voices in the region agree that the death of America’s “Most Wanted Number One” had dealt a blow to the terror network, many have warned that various Al-Qaeda affiliates, which tend to operate independently from the network’s top leadership, would likely continue to threaten the security in the region for months to come.



The news media in the region have also engaged in much discussion about the timing of bin Laden’s death.



Jamal Khashoggi, journalist, writer and former editor-in-chief of the Saudi newspaper al-Watan, told Al Arabiya TV that if Mr. Bin Laden had been killed before the wave of pro-democracy uprisings in the region, some people would have protested against America. The march for freedom in the region has damaged Al-Qaeda’s agenda and showed to the world the freedom-loving spirit of the majority of Arab and Muslim youths, he said.



Mohammad Abu Rumman, a columnist and an expert on Islamist groups, said, “The death of Mr. Bin Laden came during the downfall of dictatorial regimes and the rise of freedom in the Arab world.”



Mr. Abu Rumman told Al Arabiya that Mr. Bin Laden had lost his self-claimed image as the champion of the Muslim world with the demise of dictatorships, which were responsible for creating some of the conditions that allowed extremism to breed. When political dissent can’t be expressed in words, resort to violence becomes likely, Mr. Abu Rumman added.



Abdullah Al-Mutair, father of al-Qaeda militant Ibrahim al-Mutair who was killed earlier this year by Saudi authorities, said that he had received the news of bin Laden’s death with “joy.” Mr. al-Mutair added that Mr. Bin Laden has killed more Muslims than non-Muslims and that everyone should be please with his death.



Saudi journalist Khaled al-Moshawah, meanwhile, said that the effect of the rise of freedom in holding back extremism in the Arab world was yet to be seen.



He said: “It is still early to say that al-Qaeda will not exploit the revolutions. The death of Mr. Bin Laden is certainly a blow to the terror network, but it remains to be seen how the man’s followers will respond.”



Regardless of speculation, Mr. Bin Laden’s death will likely be a sense of triumph for some in the United States and a relief for many Muslims who are tired of seeing a violent man speak for their faith.



(Published in english.alarabiya.net on May 2, 2012)