Al Jazeera received an audiotape from a group calling itself The Army of Islam, which purports to hold Alan Johnston. Also, a picture of Johnston’s ID card has appeared on an Al-Qaida-linked web site.
The BBC says the voice on the tape demanded the release of Muslim prisoners from UK prisons, especially Sheikh Abu Qatada. Previous media reports noted a demand for Jordan to release Mubarak al-Rishawi.
© Divuach Ne’eman R”A, 2025
