<p>The US today designated a Pakistani madrassa as a terrorist organisation supporting the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Al Qaeda and Taliban, the first time such action has been taken against a seminary.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Ganj Madrassa in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, officially known as Jamia Taleem-Ul-Quran-Wal-Hadith Madrassa, is the first seminary to be the target of sanctions that forbid Americans from having any business interaction with it.<br /><br />The US Treasury said Ganj Madrassa was being used as a training and recruiting base by Al Qaeda, Taliban and the LeT, blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166. The seminary also facilitates funding for the three groups.<br /><br />Under the garb of religious education, students at the seminary are being trained to become bomb makers and suicide bombers for the three banned groups, the Treasury said.<br /><br />The head of the seminary, Fazeel-A-Tul Shaykh Abu Mohammad Ameen Al-Peshawari alias Shaykh Aminullah, has been a US and UN-designated terrorist since 2009 for supporting the Taliban and Al Qaeda.<br /><br />Aminullah has directed donations provided for the seminary to terrorist groups like the Taliban, which use the money to fund ongoing violence in Afghanistan.<br /><br />As recently as early 2013, Aminullah was recruiting for LeT at Ganj Madrassa and as of late 2012, he was hosting Al Qaeda operatives there.<br /><br />The Treasury said the madrassa's activities exemplify how terrorist groups subvert seemingly legitimate institutions, such as religious schools, to divert charitable donations to support violent acts.<br /><br />@Body:<br />US-MADRASSA 2 LAST<br />(reopens FGN 15)<br />A statement from the Treasury said: "This action does not generally target madrassas, which often play an essential role in improving literacy and providing humanitarian and developmental aid in may areas of the world, including Pakistan.<br />"Today’s action strikes at the heart of the financial and logistical support network that abuses charitable donations and provides essential services for various terrorist groups including al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Taliban."<br />Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S Cohen said, "These networks provide the fighters, training, and supplies for these terrorist groups to carry out their acts of violence against coalition forces and civilians alike."<br />Simultaneously, the US designated Umar Siddique Kathio Azmarai, a senior Al-Qaeda official who acted as a courier for top terrorist leaders and worked for Osama bin Laden's son, the now-deceased Saad bin Laden.<br />In 1999, Azmarai assisted in making logistical arrangements for Al-Qaeda members and their families in Karachi. As of early 2012, Azmarai facilitated the procurement of secure areas in Pakistan for Al-Qaeda to house militants and store vehicles. PTI LKJ RHL RHL 08202248<br /></p>
<p>The US today designated a Pakistani madrassa as a terrorist organisation supporting the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Al Qaeda and Taliban, the first time such action has been taken against a seminary.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Ganj Madrassa in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, officially known as Jamia Taleem-Ul-Quran-Wal-Hadith Madrassa, is the first seminary to be the target of sanctions that forbid Americans from having any business interaction with it.<br /><br />The US Treasury said Ganj Madrassa was being used as a training and recruiting base by Al Qaeda, Taliban and the LeT, blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166. The seminary also facilitates funding for the three groups.<br /><br />Under the garb of religious education, students at the seminary are being trained to become bomb makers and suicide bombers for the three banned groups, the Treasury said.<br /><br />The head of the seminary, Fazeel-A-Tul Shaykh Abu Mohammad Ameen Al-Peshawari alias Shaykh Aminullah, has been a US and UN-designated terrorist since 2009 for supporting the Taliban and Al Qaeda.<br /><br />Aminullah has directed donations provided for the seminary to terrorist groups like the Taliban, which use the money to fund ongoing violence in Afghanistan.<br /><br />As recently as early 2013, Aminullah was recruiting for LeT at Ganj Madrassa and as of late 2012, he was hosting Al Qaeda operatives there.<br /><br />The Treasury said the madrassa's activities exemplify how terrorist groups subvert seemingly legitimate institutions, such as religious schools, to divert charitable donations to support violent acts.<br /><br />@Body:<br />US-MADRASSA 2 LAST<br />(reopens FGN 15)<br />A statement from the Treasury said: "This action does not generally target madrassas, which often play an essential role in improving literacy and providing humanitarian and developmental aid in may areas of the world, including Pakistan.<br />"Today’s action strikes at the heart of the financial and logistical support network that abuses charitable donations and provides essential services for various terrorist groups including al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the Taliban."<br />Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S Cohen said, "These networks provide the fighters, training, and supplies for these terrorist groups to carry out their acts of violence against coalition forces and civilians alike."<br />Simultaneously, the US designated Umar Siddique Kathio Azmarai, a senior Al-Qaeda official who acted as a courier for top terrorist leaders and worked for Osama bin Laden's son, the now-deceased Saad bin Laden.<br />In 1999, Azmarai assisted in making logistical arrangements for Al-Qaeda members and their families in Karachi. As of early 2012, Azmarai facilitated the procurement of secure areas in Pakistan for Al-Qaeda to house militants and store vehicles. PTI LKJ RHL RHL 08202248<br /></p>