HVK Archives: Saudi Arabia funding schools for militant Islam
Saudi Arabia funding schools for militant Islam - BJP Today
Seema Mustafa
()
16-31 May 1997
Title : Saudi Arabia funding schools for militant Islam
Author : Seema Mustafa
Publication : BJP Today
Date : May 16-31, 1997
Money pouring in from the Saudi Arabian Government for the
ostensible uplift of the Muslim ummah is being diverted for the
propagation of militant Islam. Charitable organisations in India,
the major recipients of these funds, have been "infiltrated" by
militants, particularly in Kashmir, who have successfully usurped
the money for anti-state activities.
The Indian government has full information about the misuse of
these funds but has turned a blind eye to these Saudi operations in
this country. The Saudi Arabian Government has been funding all
kinds of organisations without any system of accountability. In
Kashmir particularly the funding has increased over the years with
extremists openly "capturing" organisations known to be receiving
Saudi donations in lakhs every year. There has been no protest from
India even though it is aware that in the Valley the Saudi funds
are being largely utilised by the militants.
The Saudi flow of funds into this country is directly, through its
Government or through organisations, openly wedded to the
propagation of militant Islam. The Ahle Hadis Salahfi Wahaabism is
a Saudi front organisation committed to the propagation of militant
Islam. It has been sending huge amounts to Marqaz al dawa al
Arshad, a Pakistan-based organisation which is the parent body for
Lashkar-e-Tayiba, openly funding militants in Kashmir. Although
this fact is well-known, sources here point out, the Indian
Government has raised no objections. In fact, it has allowed a
Varanasi organisation Ahle Hadis Jamaat-ul-Salahfiya to receive
lakhs of rupees each year from the same Salahfi Wahaabism outfit.
The Hurriyat leaders are reported to have received several crores
of rupees from the Saudi Government for re-building the
Charar-e-Sharif shrine and rehabilitating the people. This is all
part of the general Saudi plan to consolidate the Muslim community
and help them fight supposed oppression. There is no account of
these funds which are known to have travelled to the Valley. The
CBI has filed a case against Syed Ali Shah Gilani, Abdul Gani Lone
and Moulvi Abbas Ansari for alleged violation of the Foreign
Contributions Regulation Act. Mr Gilani is alleged to have
received Rs. 10 crores from the Saudis for the shrine and Mr Ansari
one million US dollars from the Waqf ministry of Kuwait to
rehabilitate the Kashmiri Muslims.
The Saudi Government does not look upon Kashmir as a territorial
dispute between India and Pakistan, but as a Hindu versus Muslim
conflict. The Saudi media is full of reports about Muslims being
in danger and requiring help to fight sustained oppression. The
money pouring into the Valley in the name of charity and
rehabilitation is, sources here said, being largely used by the
militants for their own activities.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has information of funds being
sent by the Saudis to what are termed as front organisations like
the Muslim Education Trust and the Jhelum Valley Medical College.
The money, sources said, is routed through these bodies to the
militants.
Forty organisations in India are being funded by the International
Islamic Relief Organisation based in Saudi Arabia which is probably
the largest body covering 100 countries through 45 overseas
offices. The World Muslim League is one of its umbrella
organisations which has the avowed objective of propagating
militant Islam. The money being sent is being used for residential
schools for Islamic learning, in keeping with the Saudi intention
to develop Muslim society in India along lines predetermined by it.
The key word is indoctrination.
The Markaz al Dawaa al Arshad is a centre of Islamic fundamentalism
training. Saudi financial support to it is well-known and has
found considerable criticism in the media.
(Courtesy: The Asian Age)
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