Al-Muntada Trust

{{islam}}
The '''Al-Muntada Trust''' is an international charitable organisation, initially founded in the [[United Kingdom]], which aims to provide food, education and community outreach in impoverished countries.<ref>[http://www.almuntadatrust.org/what-we-do/ What We Do], Al-Muntada Trust.</ref>

Although the organisation has done good work in these areas, it has also been heavily criticised for its links to militant [[Islamist]] organisations and support for Islamic fundamentalism, as described in a 2005 report from The Center for Security Policy:

{{quotebox|Al-Muntada has, incidentally, been particularly active in promoting [[Wahhabi]]-style Islamism in Nigeria. As explained by a [[Sufism|Sufi]] of Kano state, “before al-Muntada came to Kano there had been little or no inter-religious conflict…Now…we are almost on the verge of civil war.” Al-Muntada, he explains, pays for Nigerian clerics to be “brainwashed” in Saudi universities and imposed on Nigerian Muslims through its well-funded network of mosques and schools.<ref>David McCormack, [http://www.offnews.info/downloads/Af_Vortex.pdf An African Vortex: Islamism in Sub-Saharan Africa]. Center for Security Policy via offnews.info, January 2005.</ref>}}

The charity funded an armed group that launched a rebellion in Yobe State in 2004,<ref>J. Peter Pham, [https://web.archive.org/web/20071107195325/http://worlddefensereview.com/pham050406.shtml Militant Islamism's Shadow Rises Over Sub-Saharan Africa]. Archived from ''World Defense Review'', 6 May 2004.</ref> and it has reportedly also given funds to the brutal paramilitary group [[Boko Haram]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120214204432/http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/front-page-news/35888-boko-harams-funding-traced-to-uk-sarabia-sect-planned-to-turn-nigeria-into-afghanistan-arrested-kingpin-opens-up Boko Haram’s funding traced to UK, S/Arabia - Sect planned to turn Nigeria into Afghanistan - Arrested kingpin opens up]. Archived from ''Nigerian Tribune'', 13 February 2012.</ref>

In 2004 the charity's director, Sheik Muhiddeen Abdullahi, was arrested. It was discovered that he had conducted millions of dollars worth of financial transactions with the fundamentalist cleric Alhaji Sharu.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111105165054/http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/nigeria/2004/newsarticle_2857.html Authorities Arrest Sponsor of Muslim Militants]. Archived from ''Compass Direct News'', 15 March 2011.</ref>

In 2012 the Al-Muntada Trust organised a conference to be held at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London. The speakers who were invited to the event included Abd al-Aziz Fawzan al-Fawzan, who said that all "infidels", even one's relatives, should be hated and that [[homosexuality]] is an "abomination"; Muhammed Abd Al-Rahmen Al-Arifi, who says that the US and its allies are "infidel countries" and regards [[Shia]] Muslims as "evil"; the all-round nut [[Haitham al-Haddad]]; and Nabil Al-Awadhi, who says that homosexuals and emos are dangers to society, that Europeans are in the thrall of [[Satan]], and that there should be video games about killing [[Jews]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120702234240/http://hurryupharry.org/2012/06/25/call-to-action-grand-connaught-rooms-to-host-jihadist-conference/ Call to action: Grand Connaught Rooms to host Jihadist conference]. Archived from ''Harry's Place'', 25 June 2012.</ref> The conference was cancelled following complaints.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120921002406/http://hurryupharry.org/2012/06/28/grand-connaught-rooms-jihadist-conference-event-cancelled Grand Connaught Rooms Jihadist Conference: Event cancelled]. Archived from ''Harry's Place'', 21 June 2012.</ref>

Other fundamentalists hosted by the charity in the past include Ali Al-Timimi, who was sentenced to life in prison after recruiting fighters for the [[Taliban]]; [[Abuz Zubair]], owner of the extremist forum [[Islamic Awakening]]; and Khalid Yasin, a [[9/11 truther]] who says that homosexuals should be executed.<ref>[http://hurryupharry.net/2014/09/01/isiss-banker-al-muntada-trust-and-senior-labour-mps/ ISIS’s Banker, Al Muntada Trust, and senior Labour MPs]. ''Harry's Place'', 1 September 2014.</ref>

==External links==
* [http://www.almuntadatrust.org/ Official website]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Humanitarian organizations]]
[[Category:Islamic extremism]]
[[Category:Islamic fundamentalism]]
[[Category:Islamism]]
[[Category:Organizations]]

Categories: Humanitarian organizations, Islamic extremism, Islamic fundamentalism, Islamism, Organizations