Posted on 09/19/2003 4:33:55 AM PDT by Lorenb420
TORONTO - A Muslim youth organization that American counter-terrorism officials say was founded by Osama bin Laden's nephew has been operating in the Toronto area, the National Post has learned.
The World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), established in the United States by Abdullah bin Laden, publishes literature promoting Islamic jihad and hatred of Jews, according to a senior investigator.
The Canadian branch, in Mississauga, operates under the supervision of the U.S. wing set up by Abdullah bin Laden, according to the group's own literature. Its headquarters is in Saudi Arabia.
In an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Virginia, David Kane, a senior special agent with the Department of Homeland Security, quoted provocative sections of books published by WAMY. One of the books said, "Teach our children to love taking revenge on the Jews and the oppressors, and teach them that our youngsters will liberate Palestine and al-Quds [Jerusalem] when they go back to Islam and make jihad for the sake of Allah."
Special Agent Kane said another book compiled and published by WAMY listed "Heroes of Palestine" who had been killed in attacks against Israelis, including a terrorist who hijacked a bus and drove it off a cliff, killing 14.
"The Jews are the enemies of the faithful, God and the angels," Special Agent Kane quoted another WAMY book, entitled A Handy Encyclopedia of Contemporary Religions and Sects, as saying. "The Jews are humanity's enemies; they foment immorality in this world; The Jews are deceitful, they say something but mean the exact opposite."
WAMY Canada runs a series of Islamic camps and pilgrimages for youth.
A spokesman for WAMY Canada was not available for comment yesterday.
Special Agent Kane quoted from a publication prepared by the Camps and Conferences Unit of WAMY that said: "Hail! Hail! O Sacrificing Soldiers! To Us! To Us! So we may defend the flag on this Day of Jihad, are you miserly with your blood?! And has life become dearer to you? And staying behind sweeter?"
The special agent said 14- to 18-year-olds are the target audience for these teachings.
WAMY has been under FBI investigation in the United States since 1999 for possible terrorist links. Special Agent Kane said there are possible financial links between WAMY and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
WAMY is being examined as part of a massive probe into a series of related companies and charities in Virginia suspected of being part of a terror-financing network.
But the Canadian branch of WAMY continues to operate near Toronto. It shares a building with the Islamic Society of North America and the Islamic Centre of Canada.
According to the WAMY-Canada Internet site: "The World Assembly of Muslim Youth is an international Islamic organization. The headquarters is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It has many branches all over the world. The Canadian office is supervised by the USA office in Washington D.C."
The WAMY Canada Web site has links to several organizations suspected of financing terror, including the Holy Land Foundation, Muslim World League and International Islamic Relief Organization.
Time to give these groups a double wammy.
When you hear some outrageous, hateful statement by the KKK or similar groups, no one says "well, those are extremists who don't really represent the majority of moderate black-haters. They are hijacking and distorting the views of the entire black-hating community." But that's what they say about Islamists.
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