The Mujama' al-Islami ("Islamic Centre") is an Islamic charity founded in 1973 in Gaza by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who had been involved with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's Palestinian branch. Mujama started to offer clinics, blood banks, day care, medical treatment, meals and youth clubs. Mujama plays an important role for providing social care to the people, particularly those living in refugee camps. It also extended financial aid and scholarships to young people who wanted to study in Saudi Arabia and the West.
| Founded | 1973 |
|---|---|
| Type | NGO |
| Location |
|
Area served | Palestine |
Key people | Ahmed Yassin |
Al-Mujama' al-Islami was recognized by Israel in 1979 as a charity, allowing the organization to set up the Islamic University in Gaza (IUG) and build mosques, clubs, schools,[1] and a library in Gaza,[2] besides other social services.
In the late 1970s and 1980s, al-Mujama' al-Islami are reported to have coerced urban educated women in Gaza to wear Islamic dress or hijab.[3]
In 1984, the Israeli military had infiltrated a suspected mosque and found a cache of weapons. Sheikh Yassin and others were jailed for secretly stockpiling weapons, but he was released in 1985 as part of the Jibril Agreement.[4] He continued to expand Mujama's reach across Gaza.[1]
Formation of Hamas
editIn 1987, during the First Intifada, Yassin and six other Mujama Islamist members launched Hamas, originally calling it the "paramilitary wing" of the Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood, and Yassin became its spiritual leader. He also claimed responsibility for a number of suicide attacks targeting Israeli civilians, and Hamas was designated a terrorist organization.[5] By that time, Mujama controlled an estimated 40% of mosques in Gaza. Mujama's institutions would become crucial to Hamas's terrorist activities. They were and continue to provide cover for raising, laundering and transferring funds, facilitate the group's propaganda and recruitment efforts, provide employment for its operatives, and serve as a logistical support network.[6]
In February 2007, Fatah militia stormed the Islamic University in Gaza and confiscated weapons and ammunition that were stored there. Palestinian television aired footage showing dozens of rocket-propelled grenade launchers, rockets, and assault rifles, as well as thousands of bullets which had been found inside the university.[7][8]
In December 2008, the university was bombed in six air strikes by the Israeli Air Force during the 2008 Gaza War, claiming that university facilities were being used by Hamas to develop and store weapons including Qassam rockets used to target Israeli civilians. Hamas denied the Israeli allegation.[7][9] The university was again targeted by air strikes during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict. The Israeli army said it targeted a "weapon development" centre in the university.[10]
Related entities
editThe Islamic Charitable Society is a non-profit charitable organisation located in Hebron in the West Bank. The charity was founded in 1962 to take care of orphans and expanded through years. It is now responsible for two orphanages, three schools for boys and girls, dairy, sewing workshop, two bakeries, a large mall and a 30-apartment building.[11]
According to a 2006 episode of the BBC's series:
- the Islamic Charitable Society has received funding from Interpal and is associated with Hamas.[12] Citing the Charity Commission for England and Wales and a draft report from the U.S. Treasury's Asset Freezing Working Group, it was alleged on that the Islamic Charitable Society has "a well-documented supporting role within the Hamas infrastructure" and that it had "funded and administered educational programmes that appear tantamount to incitement and indoctrination in support of violent Hamas activity.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Higgins, Andrew (2009-01-24). "How Israel Helped to Spawn Hamas". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on September 26, 2009. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
- ^ Hamas Victory Is Built on Social Work. Los Angeles Times, March 2, 2006.
- ^ "Women and the Hijab in the Intifada", Rema Hammami Middle East Report, May–August 1990
- ^ "HAMAS and Israel: Conflicting Strategies of Group-Based Politics" (PDF). Retrieved 11 June 2010.
- ^ "Sheikh Yassin: Spiritual figurehead". BBC Online. 22 March 2004. Retrieved 7 August 2007.
- ^ Hamas: Politics, Charity, and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad (2006) by Matthew Levitt. pp 23-25 ISBN 978-0300122589
- ^ a b "IRAN'S GAZA GOONS CAUGHT AT HELM OF BOMB FACTORY," by ANDY SOLTIS with Post Wire Services, New York Post, Feb. 3, 2007 [1] Archived 2008-12-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Gaza is hit with more Israeli airstrikes," by Steven Erlanger, New York Times, Friday, May 18, 2007 [2]
- ^ Jerusalem Post, Dec 29, 2008, IAF bombs Islamic University's R&D labs, By YAAKOV KATZ [3][permanent dead link]
- ^ "Israel strikes university in Gaza City". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ Islamic Charitable Society, Orphans Under Threat.
- ^ a b "Panorama: Faith, Hate and Charity", Panorama, BBC One, 30 July 2006
Faith, hate and charity: Transcript