Egyptian Cleric: Poverty Can be Solved by Selling Humans 'Like Groceries

Over the past week, a video has surfaced featuring prominent Egyptian cleric Salafi Shaykh Abi-Ishaq al-Huwayni. In a translation posted by Al Mutarjim on his blog Translating Jihad, al-Huwayni is quoted as advocating jihad (he says it's "a real pleasure") and encouraging listeners to ease financial problems through the capture and sale of human beings (he says they can be sold "like groceries").

The Blaze reached out to Al Mutarjim, who has translated the audio into English. He told us that the almost-unbelievable translation is making its way around Arab-language web sites. He also credited Arab-American activist and author, Nonie Darwish, for sending the video along to him. You can hear the audio, complete with English subtitles, below:

Here's the translation in copy form:

We are in the era of jihad. The era of jihad has come over us, and jihad in the path of Allah is a pleasure. It is a real pleasure. The companions (of the Prophet) used to compete to (perform jihad). The poverty that we’re in—is it not due to our abandonment of jihad? But if we could conduct one, two, or three jihadist operations every year, many people throughout the earth would become Muslims. And whoever rejected this da’wa, or stood in our way, we would fight against him and take him prisoner, and confiscate his wealth, his children, and his women—all of this means money. Every mujahid who returned from jihad, his pockets would be full. He would return with 3 or 4 slaves, 3 or 4 women, and 3 or 4 children. Multiply each head by 300 dirhams, or 300 dinar, and you have a good amount of profit. If he were to go to the West and work on a commercial deal, he would not make that much money. Whenever things became difficult (financially), he could take the head (i.e. the prisoner) and sell it, and ease his (financial) crisis. He would sell it like groceries. Of those who are--(cuts off)

This is concerning, considering Egypt's ongoing political turmoil. Hopefully, this sort of proposal is considered fringe and not indicative of the potential impact Islamic radicalism could have in the region.

(h/t Weasel Zippers)