Saudis not financing madrasahs

Dr. Maqbool Ahmed Shahid

Dhu al-Qa'dah 14, 1433 2012-10-01

Letters To The Editor

by Dr. Maqbool Ahmed Shahid (Letters To The Editor, Crescent International Vol. 41, No. 8, Dhu al-Qa'dah, 1433)

Reader takes issue with charge that Saudis behind financing madrasahs that produce suicide bombers.

Re: “How to deal with the fitnah of Al Saud” (Crescent August 2012). In your editorial you claim that the Saudis are financing madrasahs in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh to produce suicide bombers. This allegation was first made by the “Great Satan.” The controlling authorities of these madrasahs (Nizamaat-e Madaris) have repeatedly challenged anyone to produce evidence against a single madrasahs where terrorists and suicide bombers are trained. Even the intelligence agencies have failed to produce any evidence.

Some Saudi philanthropists in the past have provided financial support to madrasahs in their personal capacity because of their love of Islam and Qur’anic education. But under US pressure even this has stopped. I personally know of an advance Islamic Institution (madrasah) in Kenya that was financed by some Saudi citizens but they have withdrawn support for fear that they may be harassed by the Saudi police or even arrested. Given these facts, it is inappropriate to say the Saudi government is financing the madrasahs.

Dr. Maqbool Ahmed Shahid

New Campus, Lahore, Pakistan