Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has released a martyrdom statement for Anwar al Awlaki, the al Qaeda cleric who was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month. AQAP claims – like many critics of the strike – that slaying Awlaki violated American law because the U.S. government “did not prove any crime” and “never presented any proof against” Awlaki and Samir Khan, who was also killed in the strike. The argument goes that, as Americans, Awlaki and Khan were deprived of their right to due process.

Of course, the irony here is that AQAP has confirmed Awlaki’s and Khan’s roles in the organization by issuing a martyrdom statement. Al Qaeda’s Arabian affiliate does not issue martyrdom statements for just anyone. Indeed, the group calls Awlaki a “mujahid heroic sheikh” and promises “revenge” for his killing.