http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Terrorism <http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level_English.php?cat=Terrorism&loid=8.0.386977 178&par=0> &loid=8.0.386977178&par=0
TERRORISM: U.S. ISLAMIC CHARITY FIGHTS BACK AGAINST ACCUSATIONS <javascript:aumenta();> <javascript:diminuisci();> Karachi, 16 Feb. (AKI) - (by Syed Saleem Shahzad) - The director of a US-based Islamic charity, Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, Inc., Soliman al-Buthi, has for the first time spoken publicly from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia denouncing the book "My Year Inside Radical Islam", written by ex-Al-Haramain employee, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, as a "pack of lies". In a statement to Adnkronos International (AKI), al-Buthi, once on the FBI's al-Qaeda suspect list, explained that he spoke to other directors to verify the book's allegations against al-Haramain's branch in Ashland, Oregon. In the statement to AKI, al-Buthi said that he and ther other directors of the charity said that they "all concur that this book is full of falsehoods." The Saudi al-Haramain charity, linked to the Islamic Affairs Ministry, was for years a leading proponent of the fundamentalist Wahhabi brand of Islam. Most of its worldwide operations have now been wound up. Reports say that Al-Haramain's Ashland chapter was closed after al-Buthi and chapter founder Pete Seda were indicted on federal tax charges in 2005. Gartenstein-Ross, who is reportedly Jewish but converted to Islam before he became a practicing Christian, has said that he wrote the book to try to demonstrate how someone can accept a radical interpretation of Islam. He reportedly said that his book is based on public records based on the federal indictments against the two al-Buthis, Seda and the Ashland chapter of the charity. Al-Buthi told AKI that Gartenstein-Ross worked with the Oregon charity in 1999 for less than a year - first as a volunteer and then as a salaried employee. He now works as a lawyer and counter terrorism consultant in Washington. "He [Gartenstein-Ross] helped us develop a questionnaire for prisoners who had requested Islamic literature. It helped us improve our services and better determine the recipients' needs prior to shipping Islamic materials," al-Buthi said. In addition, Gartenstein-Ross actually helped write a draft version of informational literature about Islam and was a strong voice in developing and implementing strategies, he added. Gartenstein-Ross has never met Soliman al-Buthi. However, while employed at Al-Haramain Gartenstein-Ross was said to have got on well with other staff members. Also several of his colleagues apparently had friendly relationships with his parents who are Jewish. "Both Daveed and his parents were loved by the community," al-Buthi said, having confirmed this with the Ashland director of Al-Haramain, Pete Seda. Al-Haramain's proclaimed aim in the US was to foster an understanding of Islam through the distribution of Islamic educational materials. "We distributed our materials to anyone who requested them, and a vast spectrum of organizations, from U.S. federal and state governments, to military and law enforcement bodies, as well as schools, libraries, temples, churches, missionaries, and synagogues that sent us written thank-you letters for the materials and presentations provided," said al-Buthi. In his memoirs, written almost eight years after his experience with the charity,. Gartenstein-Ross paints Al-Haramain and those associated with it in a negative light, omitting, al-Buthi accuses, any information that demonstrated its true mission. "In his book Daveed suggested that some of the materials distributed by Al-Haramain were inappropriate. He singles out for criticism an essay about "jihad," or religious struggle, that was appended to an English translation of [the Muslim holy book] Koran, commonly known as "The Noble Koran." The essay itself is not a part of the Koran. The particular version of the Noble Koran that he refers to had been donated to the charity, and it was included the essay on jihad." Al-Buthi stated that during his time with the charity Gartenstein-Ross never raised any objection to the essay or its contents, according to his conversation with Seda, who has left the United States and whose whereabouts are unclear. Some reports suggest that Seda is in his native Iran. "Soon after Daveed left, the charity itself objected to the essay!" al-Buthi continued. "We requested that it be excluded in future printings of the Noble Koran we used. Why didn't he say anything to us then? He was the native English speaker and should have picked it up before we did," he argued. Further, Al-Haramain requested that potentially offensive references to Christians and Jews (reportedly not mentioned in Gartenstein-Ross' book) be removed altogether. "As a result of our actions the essay has not appeared in any editions printed after 2003," clarified al-Buthi. He continued, "This all happened before we knew that the federal government was targeting our charity. We took these actions independent of any outside concerns or pressures because we believed that the essay, and potentially offensive references, could create unnecessary tensions between religions and cultures and thus hinder understanding." The United States government without condition or restriction recently released to representatives of Al-Haramain all religious materials that it had impounded when it froze the charity's assets in February 2004. Regarding Gartenstein-Ross' suggestions that the Oregon charity has links to terrorism al-Buthi said, "this sensational allegation is simply untrue. The charity has not been found guilty of supporting, encouraging, or funding terrorism or any other terrorism related charges." The only criminal charges ever brought against the charity related to reporting of expenditures. However, he noted, when those charges were handed over to a grand jury in Eugene, Oregon, the prosecution admitted there was insufficient evidence to charge Al-Haramain of terrorist activities. Al-Haramain demanded a trial to clear its name, but the US government instead dismissed the case. Al-Haramain Oregon took a strong stance against terrorism years before the September 11, 2001 attacks on US targets, al-Buthi argued. Article II of its articles of incorporation states: "[The] Al Haramain Islamic Foundation, Inc., stands against terrorism, injustice, or subversive activities in any form, and shall oppose any statement or acts of terrorism...[and] believes such conduct is contrary to Islamic principles." Gartenstein-Ross chose not to disclose these and other highly relevant facts in his book, said al-Buthi. Al-Buthi said that all the Board members who knew Gartenstein-Ross were saddened that he engaged in "deeply hurtful personal attacks, slander, and innuendo". In his book Gartenstein-Ross admits his close cooperation with federal officials after leaving Al-Haramain. Al-Buthi, concurring with Seda and other board members, stated that Gartenstein-Ross' attacks on the organization and on the persons affiliated with it were solicited and encouraged by the current administration in Washington, which, he said was intent on whipping up anti-Islamic hysteria for its own political gain. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. 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