RedWine
03-18-2008, 08:24 AM
KUWAIT: As a follow up to the story of the young Kuwaiti singer, Hussein Al-Ahmed who left for Afghanistan to join Al-Qaeda, Al-Rai interviewed Hussein's cousin Ahmed Al-Kandari. He explained that his cousin was determined to go ahead and that he had called his family from Tehran where he was receiving dental care.
http://www.jahannews.com/files/fa/news/1386/12/27/13410_638.jpg
"Hussein is my childhood friend and we used to play music together before he became a professional singer," said Al-Kandari .
Al-Kandari said that Al-Ahmed had no intention of joining Al-Qaeda. "He would have told me before leaving to Tehran, we were together the night before," he stressed.
Al-Kandari, who works at the Ministry of Information's music department, argued that while recruiting Al-Ahmed , Al-Qaeda's website used his name to attract young people. It incited youngsters by saying that the former singer abandoned worldly pleasures to go on a holy quest.
Al-Kandari strictly denied that his cousin was mentally disturbed. "He was very religious and I used to accompany him to religious classes all over Kuwait. He was never completely influenced by any cleric," he emphasized. He said that the family was completely shocked at the news published in Al-Rai on Saturday about him joining Al-Qaeda.
http://www.jahannews.com/files/fa/news/1386/12/27/13411_188.jpg
Most young men who go to Afghanistan and join Al-Qaeda never reveal their hidden intentions to their families," he added. He also said that Al -Ahmed apparently called his family from a hotel or a street phone booth. He promised to call again in a few days time.
Responding to a question on Al-Ahmed's financial status, Al-Kandari said that he used to work with the Army, before he resigned to join the Ministry of Interior as a civilian employee. He resigned from the ministry to set up his own studio, which he later sold for KD 160,000.
http://www.jahannews.com/files/fa/news/1386/12/27/13410_638.jpg
"Hussein is my childhood friend and we used to play music together before he became a professional singer," said Al-Kandari .
Al-Kandari said that Al-Ahmed had no intention of joining Al-Qaeda. "He would have told me before leaving to Tehran, we were together the night before," he stressed.
Al-Kandari, who works at the Ministry of Information's music department, argued that while recruiting Al-Ahmed , Al-Qaeda's website used his name to attract young people. It incited youngsters by saying that the former singer abandoned worldly pleasures to go on a holy quest.
Al-Kandari strictly denied that his cousin was mentally disturbed. "He was very religious and I used to accompany him to religious classes all over Kuwait. He was never completely influenced by any cleric," he emphasized. He said that the family was completely shocked at the news published in Al-Rai on Saturday about him joining Al-Qaeda.
http://www.jahannews.com/files/fa/news/1386/12/27/13411_188.jpg
Most young men who go to Afghanistan and join Al-Qaeda never reveal their hidden intentions to their families," he added. He also said that Al -Ahmed apparently called his family from a hotel or a street phone booth. He promised to call again in a few days time.
Responding to a question on Al-Ahmed's financial status, Al-Kandari said that he used to work with the Army, before he resigned to join the Ministry of Interior as a civilian employee. He resigned from the ministry to set up his own studio, which he later sold for KD 160,000.