ID :
12438
Mon, 07/14/2008 - 11:54
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/12438
The shortlink copeid
"Hundreds" of US kids in Taliban-backed madrassas in Pak
Islamabad, July 14 (PTI) A Pakistani filmmaker has launched a campaign to secure the release of 78 American teenagers from a Taliban-backed madrassa in the country and asked the US to step in to check students enrolment in radicalseminaries to close "the pipeline to jihad".
Imran Raza, who helped secure the release of two US teenagers of Pakistani origin, found up to 80 other such boys and girls in Karachi-based Jamia Binoria madrassa while shooting "Karachi Kids" – a documentary on American childrenin Pakistan's seminaries that will be released next week.
Raza's film focuses on Noor Elahi Khan, 17, and Mahboob Elahi Khan, 16, the two brothers from Atlanta who wereforced to study at Jamia Binoria.
When he met them three years ago, the brothers wantedto take the "first plane back to America".
Three years later, the boys had been "brainwashed" andsaid the madrassa had made them "better human beings".
The siblings, who were enrolled in Jamia Binoria, considered one of the most radical seminaries in Pakistan, in August 2004, were well into their high school years when theywere sent to Pakistan by their father.
"I am grateful for the safe return of the two American children to Atlanta from a Taliban-backed madrassa but the mullah claims to have up to 78 more in his institution. The headmaster comes to the US once a year and personally recruits American children to enrol in his madrassa," Raza said in a statement on his website shortly after the release of the Khanbrothers two days ago.
"The remaining 78 children must be returned to the US.
This pipeline to jihad must be closed....It is imperative that members of Congress and the State Department undertake an accounting of just how many Americans are in the other 20,000madrassas in Pakistan. Hundreds remain behind," Raza said.
Raza's documentary "Karachi Kids" has been getting rave reviews and he is also running a campaign on his website– karachikids.com – asking people to help "spread the word".
He encourages internet surfers to display a Karachi Kids Banner on their blogs or join an affiliate programme to help free other American children of Pakistani descent who arestill at madrassas.
Raza decided to make the documentary shortly after it was found that three of the four suicide bombers who carried out bombings in London were British nationals of Pakistanidescent and two attended madrassas in Pakistan.
US-based Raza has since been joined by many others in his campaign. US Congressman Michael McCaul personally urged Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to help free the Khanbrothers and have them returned to the US.
McCaul is also calling for the return of others childrenlike them.
The NGO South Asia Foundation for Educational Reform has been floated to raise global awareness about madrassas, specifically their growing attraction to and recruitment ofAmericans and boys from other Western nations.
SAFER is focused on the growing number of American youngsters, predominantly of Pakistani descent, being sent bytheir parents to madrassas in their ancestral homeland.
Jamia Binoria prominently displays a banner supporting the Taliban and it is documented that Osama bin Ladenspoke to students at Jamia Binoria before the 9/11 attacks.
PTI
Imran Raza, who helped secure the release of two US teenagers of Pakistani origin, found up to 80 other such boys and girls in Karachi-based Jamia Binoria madrassa while shooting "Karachi Kids" – a documentary on American childrenin Pakistan's seminaries that will be released next week.
Raza's film focuses on Noor Elahi Khan, 17, and Mahboob Elahi Khan, 16, the two brothers from Atlanta who wereforced to study at Jamia Binoria.
When he met them three years ago, the brothers wantedto take the "first plane back to America".
Three years later, the boys had been "brainwashed" andsaid the madrassa had made them "better human beings".
The siblings, who were enrolled in Jamia Binoria, considered one of the most radical seminaries in Pakistan, in August 2004, were well into their high school years when theywere sent to Pakistan by their father.
"I am grateful for the safe return of the two American children to Atlanta from a Taliban-backed madrassa but the mullah claims to have up to 78 more in his institution. The headmaster comes to the US once a year and personally recruits American children to enrol in his madrassa," Raza said in a statement on his website shortly after the release of the Khanbrothers two days ago.
"The remaining 78 children must be returned to the US.
This pipeline to jihad must be closed....It is imperative that members of Congress and the State Department undertake an accounting of just how many Americans are in the other 20,000madrassas in Pakistan. Hundreds remain behind," Raza said.
Raza's documentary "Karachi Kids" has been getting rave reviews and he is also running a campaign on his website– karachikids.com – asking people to help "spread the word".
He encourages internet surfers to display a Karachi Kids Banner on their blogs or join an affiliate programme to help free other American children of Pakistani descent who arestill at madrassas.
Raza decided to make the documentary shortly after it was found that three of the four suicide bombers who carried out bombings in London were British nationals of Pakistanidescent and two attended madrassas in Pakistan.
US-based Raza has since been joined by many others in his campaign. US Congressman Michael McCaul personally urged Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to help free the Khanbrothers and have them returned to the US.
McCaul is also calling for the return of others childrenlike them.
The NGO South Asia Foundation for Educational Reform has been floated to raise global awareness about madrassas, specifically their growing attraction to and recruitment ofAmericans and boys from other Western nations.
SAFER is focused on the growing number of American youngsters, predominantly of Pakistani descent, being sent bytheir parents to madrassas in their ancestral homeland.
Jamia Binoria prominently displays a banner supporting the Taliban and it is documented that Osama bin Ladenspoke to students at Jamia Binoria before the 9/11 attacks.
PTI
