JuD writes to US, defending itself

LAHORE: While rejecting the United States Treasury Department’s allegations in its Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines for Charitable Sector, the Jamaatul Daawa, earlier know as the Lashkar-e-Toiba, has written a letter to the Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson saying that the Bush administration was sowing hatred among Muslims at the behest of India.

In its Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for US-Based Charities released on September 29, the US Treasury Department accused Jamaatul Daawa of supporting and financing terrorists under the guise of relief work for the October 2005 quake victims.

In a letter written to Henry Paulson on behalf of the JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, the group’s secretary information and the former secretary information of LeT, Yahya Mujahid writes, “It is a pity that regardless of the tremendous trust and confidence shown in the JuD by international and local organisations, including the UN, in the aftermath of the quake in the northern areas of Pakistan, the Department of Treasury has chosen to portray it negatively at the best of India.”

“We don’t expect any apology or corrections from the US. We have written this letter solely to put it on record that Jamaatul Daawa rejects all charges and allegations which the US has brought against it. The JuD is a welfare organisation engaged in relief and social welfare activities, while calling people to righteousness and good deeds. It is not involved in any terrorist activities, nor is it related to any terrorist organisation. The JuD is not a secret organisation either and is open to everyone.”

Daawa is the only organisation which has been helping the quake victims. “International aid organisations found our workers honest and helping individuals — not crazed terrorists, as the US tries to portray them. We, therefore, ask the US to stop such discriminatory attitudes towards Muslims or face the consequences,” the letter concludes.