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Name of
Organization |
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Al-Rashid
Trust (ART) |
Formation |
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Al Rashid
trust was formed on February 13, 1996 as a humanitarian
organization aimed at carrying out welfare projects
throughout Pakistan. The trust had 21 branches across
Pakistan. ART also operated in Chechnya, Kosovo and
Afghanistan. Its aim in Afghanistan was to counter
western non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as it
perceived them to be the ‘enemies of Islam.’ Under the
cover of relief activities, ART provided funds to
Taliban and other like minded organizations.
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Leadership |
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Mufti Muhammad
Rashid: Founder
He also taught at Darul Ifta-e-Wal Irshad (a religious
seminary).
Mufti Abu Lubaba: Group’s Ideologue
He is an author and also writes for ART’s newspaper
‘Zarb-e Momin.’[1]
Maulvi Sibghat Ullah: Director Al-Rashid Kandhar,
Afghanistan
Abdul Hadi Mulla Khel: Al-Rashid trust’s representative
in Afghanistan
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School of
Thought |
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Deobandi Sunni; Sunni |
Structure of
the Organization |
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Not much is
known about this organization after its proscription in
2001. However, before its proscription it had 21
branches across Pakistan. ART was also carrying out
operations in Afghanistan, Chechnya and Kosovo. Its head
office was situated in the Gulshan-e Iqbal area of
Karachi.[2]
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Financial Resources |
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According to
Pepe Escobar “The biggest source of funds for Al-Rashid
are the Middle East and everywhere where Pakistanis can
be found, especially in Britain. The trust also has a
network in South Africa. Al-Rashid also raises a lot of
money in Pakistan.”
[3]
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Status |
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• U.S. State Department Foreign Terrorist Organizations:
September 22, 2001 to Present
• United Nations: October 6, 2001 to Present
• Pakistan: December 1, 2005
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Recruitment
tools & demographics |
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The
recruitment and selection procedure followed by Al
Rashid is not known. However, their activities have
greatly helped other terrorist organizations in
selection of recruits. The trust runs many madrassahs
and mosques in Pakistan. One of the largest madrassahs
run by ART is Arabia-Islamia in Mansehra on the
Karakoram Highway. The trust also runs a hospital in
Muzaffarabad. In Afghanistan, ART coordinates with Wafa
Kharia, an Arab NGO formed by Osama bin Laden.[5]
ART has also built a number of madrassahs in
Afghanistan. Before the attack by NATO and US forces,
ART was building more than 20 mosques on the
Kabul-Kandahar Highway and five mosques along Kandahar-Chaman
Highway.[6]
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Ideology |
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ART was
created as a humanitarian organization aimed at carrying
out welfare projects throughout Pakistan. However, ART
was proscribed in 2001 after it was suspected for
providing funds to Taliban in Afghanistan. It was also
involved in providing funds to different groups in
Kosovo and Chechnya. It followed an anti-western
ideology, as it considered western NGOs to be the
“enemies of Islam.”[4]
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Areas of
Operation |
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21 districts
across Pakistan and Jalalabad, Kabul, Kandahar and Mazar-e
Sharif Afghanistan
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Linkages |
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Taliban,
Al-Qaeda, Jaish-e Muhammad, Lashkar-e Tayyiba, Lashkar-e
Jhangvi, Wafa Khairia |
Tools |
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Print Media:
Weekly Zarb-e
Momin (Urdu) (proscribed but available online) http://zarbpk.blogspot.com/
Weekly Dharb-e Momin (English) (Proscribed)
Daily Islam:
http://www.dailyislam.pk/epaper/
Khwateen ka Islam (Daily Islam’s magazine for women)
www.dailyislam.pk/dailyislam/khawateenkaislam/
Bachoun ka Islam Daily Islam’s magazine for children)
http://www.dailyislam.pk/dailyislam/bachonkaislam/588/index.php
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Audio / Video:
Not Available
Social Media
Facebook:
Daily Islam Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/ISLAM.daily.newspaper
Khawateen ka Islam and Bachoun ka Islam Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/Bachonorkhwateenkaislam
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web site |
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Not Available
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Name
Variations |
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Al-Rashid
Trust (ART) is referred to the following name
variations:
• Al-Amin
Welfare Trust
• Al Amin Trust
• Al-Ameen Trust
• Al Ameen Trut
• Al-Madina Trust
• Al Madina Trust
• Maymar Trust (Most recently)
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Who they are
Al-Rashid Trust
was created as a welfare organization aimed at carrying out welfare projects
within Pakistan. However with the passage of time it expanded its activities
in countries like Chechnya, Kosovo and Afghanistan. Although primarily a
welfare organization, ART actively promoted Jihad through booklets written
by its prominent leaders. They perceived international NGOs as enemies of
Islam and one of their aims in Afghanistan was to oust the international
organizations[7].
History
ART was created
in February, 1996 with the aim of carrying out welfare projects in Pakistan.
Mufti Muhammad Rashid is the founding leader of this organization. Mufti Abu
Lubaba was the organization’s ideologue. Maulvi Sibghat Ullah was Director
Al-Rahid Trust in Kandahar, Afghanistan[8].
ART was headquartered in Karachi’s
Gulshan-e Iqbal area. It had more than 21 branches across Pakistan. In
addition, it had its branches in Kandahar, Afghanistan. It was listed as
proscribed by the US right after September 11 attacks for allegedly
providing support to Al-Qaeda and other militant organizations in
Afghanistan. ART’s bank accounts were frozen by the State Bank of Pakistan
after its listing by the US government[9].
Organization's Message
ART’s main aim
is to provide all kinds of support to jihadist organizations in Pakistan and
Afghanistan. So its main aim is to support jihad and jihadist activities. It
promotes its ideology through its publications (Weekly Zarb-e Momin and
others). It is a Deobandi organization similar to Al-Qaeda, Taliban and many
other militant organizations. ART also provided recruits to the militant
organizations working in Pakistan and Afghanistan through madrassahs and
mosques established by them[10].
Target Audience
ART’s target
audience includes wealthy businessmen and individuals that support jihadist
activities. According to South Asian Terrorism Portal, “the biggest source
of funds for Al Rashid Trust is the Middle East and Pakistan.” in addition,
it also has a network in South Africa. However, all the bank accounts linked
to ART were frozen after its proscription. ART, however, claims that all its
activities are humanitarian[11].
Tools
Jihadist
organizations are well aware of the importance of communications and for
that matter they employ a series of tools to target their audience and to
convey their messages to everyone. ART before its proscription was running
two newspapers namely weekly Zarb-e Momin (Urdu), Dharb-e Momin (English)
and Daily Islam. Zarb-e Momin was considered as Taliban’s mouth piece. Mufti
Muhammad Rashid is also the Chief Editor of Daily Islam. Islam group of
newspapers also publish magazine targeting women (Khwateen ka Islam) and
children (Bachoun ka Islam).
Mufti Muhammad Rashid has a longstanding relationship with Maulana Masood
Azhar of Jaish-e Muhammad (JeM). Maulana Masood Azhar is also a regular
contributor in Weekly Zarb-e Momin. Daily Islam and Zarb-e Momin although
banned are still being published and are easily available both online and in
print. ART doesn’t have a footprint on the social media.
Splinter Groups
N/A
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References:
[1] Al-Kalam. Accessed online from:
http://www.alkalam.pk/ebooks_htm/ebooks_02.htm
date of access: October 9, 2013.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Pepe Escobar. The Roving eye, Anatomy of a
‘terrorist’ NGO: Online Asia Times. October 26, 2001. Accessed
online from:
http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/CJ26Ag01.html
date of access: October 9, 2013.
[4] Objectives: Al Rashid Trust. Accessed
online from:
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/Al-Rashid_Trust.htm
Date of access: October 9, 2013
[5] Activities: Al Rashid Trust. South Asian
Terrorism Portal. Accessed online from:
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/Al-Rashid_Trust.htm
Date of access: October 10, 2013.
[6] Pepe Escobar. The Roving eye, Anatomy of a
‘terrorist’ NGO: Online Asia Times. October 26, 2001. Accessed
online from: http://www.atimes.com/c-asia/CJ26Ag01.html. date of
access: October 9, 2013.
[7] Al Rashid: SATP. Accessed online from:
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/Al-Rashid_Trust.htm
date of access: October 10, 2013.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Al Rashid Trust: Mapping Militant
Organizations. Accessed online from:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/117#note1
Date of access: October 10, 2013.
[11] Al Rashid Trust: SATP. Accessed online
from:
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/pakistan/terroristoutfits/Al-Rashid_Trust.htm
Date of access: October 10, 2013.
[12] Zarb-e Momin Facebook page. Accessed
online from:
https://www.facebook.com/ZARB.E.MOMIN.weekly
date of access: October 10, 2013.
[13] Daily Islam. Accessed online:
http://www.dailyislam.pk/epaper/
Date of access: October 10, 2013.
[14] Khawateeen ka Islam. Accessed online
from:
www.dailyislam.pk/dailyislam/khawateenkaislam/
Date of access: October 10, 2013.
[15] Bachoun ka Islam. Accessed online from:
http://www.dailyislam.pk/dailyislam/bachonkaislam/588/index.php
date of access: October 10, 2013.
[16] Khawateen ka Islam and Bachoun ka Islam
Facebook page. Accessed online from:
http://www.dailyislam.pk/dailyislam/bachonkaislam/588/index.php
date of access: October 10, 2013.
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