Jamaat-e-Islami

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Jamaat-e-Islami (Urdu: جماعتِ اlلامی, "Islamic Assembly" Jamaat, JI) is an Islamic political movement founded in Lahore by Maulana Maududi 26 August 1941. <ref>GlobalSecurity.org: Jamaat-e-Islami</ref> Today it is one of the largest components of the coalition of religious parties, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, in Pakistan. Members are often referred to, usually by others, as Jamaatis. The latter is also used as an adjective for certain political viewpoint or attitude.

1 History
2 Mission Statement
3 Branches
- 3.1 Student Wing
4 Activities
- 4.1 Terrorist links
- 4.2 Bombing of a religious school 30 October 2006
5 Offshoot
6 References
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] History

It is said that Jamaat's purpose was to promote Islamic values and practices in South Asia. In fact, the main and probably the only purpose of the party is to use public softness towards Islam in order to gain political advantage. Another main tenent of the early Jamaat's manifesto was a stringent opposition to the creation of Pakistan. The Jamaat hierarchy believed that the interests of Islam would be better served in a United India. After Independence in 1947, Maududi redefined the Jamaat-e-Islami's purpose as the establishment of an Islamic state in Pakistan. Following independence the branches of the movement which remained in India was converted into a separate organization, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind.

In the legislative elections of Pakistan on October 20, 2002, Jamaat-e-Islami got 11.3% of the popular vote and 53 out of 272 elected members.

[edit] Mission Statement

Delaying tactics should not be used in the implementation of Islamic Sharia, and it should be specified as ‘The Supreme Law’ of the country, in the Constitution. The nation should be delivered of the curse of Interest from the economy. Immediate action should be taken, to end the Interest system, according to the recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology, the Federal Sharia Court, and follow the report of the Economic Commission, which was established by the government itself.
The government should avoid taking actions which are contrary to the dignity and freedom of the country; as, by handing over of Aimal Kansi to the American commandos, in violation of the country’s law, the government provided a cause of national disgrace.
All the looted wealth of the nation should be recovered, by carrying out judicious accountability of previous rulers and newly elected Members of the Assembly. Very large amounts, deposited in the foreign banks, should be recovered through effective arrangements, and the process of accountability should be meaningfully applied without any discrimination, to everyone.
The nation should not be deprived of its right to protect itself against any nuclear blackmail, through the NPT or CTBT, or under the pressure of some global power.
Radio and TV should be stopped from spreading obscenity and vulgarity.
Friday should again be declared the weekly holiday, instead of Sunday.
Regarding the Golden Jubilee, instead of organising events and shows contrary to Islamic values, the people of the country should be made aware of the ideology of Pakistan so that they are able to pass their lives according to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah. <ref>Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan: Our Perception of the Situation</ref>

[edit] Branches

[edit] Student Wing

The Jamaat's student wings are known as the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) also known as the Jamiat (pronounced "juh-mee-at") or 'IJT'. The heavy-handed approach of Jamiat in educational institutes has actually fuelled anti-Jamiat feelings resulting in the creation of parties like MQM and its associated student wing. These in turn considerably reduced Jamiat’s influence in places like Karachi and Hyderabad. In the 1960s and the 1970s it was successfully challenged by Pakistan's two main left-wing student parties, National Students Federation and Democratic Students Federation. It lost most student body elections to these two parties, but gained ground after the arrival of General Mohammad Zia ul-Haq in 1977. However, ever since the late 1980s, the IJT has lost a lot of support and power especially in the face of the rise of Muttahida Qaumi Movement 's student wing, the All Pakistan Mohajir Students Organization in Karachi and Muslim Students Federation and People's Students Federation elsewhere in the country. The Jamiat also has a wing/counterpart for female students called the Islami Jamiat-e-Taalibaat.

[edit] Activities

The Jamat is very active in the field of Dawah (Missionary movement), Tarbiyah (Islamic education) and Tanzeem (organizations) almost in all the areas of Pakistan.

It has a strong body in each province which is further divided in district, cities, towns and village zones and sectors.

Jamat has also its unions for doctors, teachers and workers and the same is in the female wing of Jamat Halqa Khawateen (circle of women).

[edit] Terrorist links

In a 1993 US Congressional Report, it is stated that Hizbul Mujahideen has been supported by, and closely affiliated with Jamaat-i-Islami, "from which they receive funding, weapons and training assistance beyond the ISI's contribution. Following the organizational principles recommended by Tehran and Khartoum, the movement has transformed into the Kashmiri Jamaat-i-Islami, under Abdul-Majid Dar, with a quasi-legal character emphasizing educational and social activism, with the Hizbul Mujahideen as the clandestine terrorist arm." Regarding the training of Kashmiri Islamist terrorists, the report states that, "Islamist indoctrination and other assistance is provided the Jamaat-i-Islami of Pakistan." <ref>The New Islamist International:Task Force on Terrorism & Unconventional Warfare. Report February 1, 1993</ref>

GlobalSecurity.org report that Hizbul Mujahideen was formed in 1989 in the Kashmir valley "as the militant wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami at the behest of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan’s external intelligence agency, to counter the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), which had advocated complete independence of the State." <ref>GlobalSecurity.org: Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM)</ref>

Khurshid Ahmed, writes on Jamaat.org, "The reason of war is Islamic forces’ meddling in Kashmir where religious parties’ role, and particularly of Jamaat-e-Islami, is highlighted. Collaboration and cooperation between the military and the Islamic forces is held responsible for the situation." <ref>Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan: Pakistan: Crises and the Way Out</ref>

The Times of India reports, "The Hizbul Mujahideen had borne the brunt of counter-insurgency operations for the past two years. He also found its political wing, the Jamaat-e-Islami, and its ameer, Ghulam Mohammed Butt, stressing the necessity for dialogue." <ref>The Time of India: Why the Hizb talked and why it'll talk again</ref>

[edit] Bombing of a religious school 30 October 2006

The bombing of a religious school on 30 October 2006 in Pakistan which claimed the lives of 80 civilians was a salute to Britain's Charles, Prince of Wales - Tariq Naeem - a local leader of Jamaat-e-Islami - stated, to demonstrate the countrys' anti-terror credentials while a key British figure was in the country. The Pakistani government justified the strike on the first day of the royal visit by claiming the school was run by a radical preacher, who also harboured al-Qaeda militants. In addition Tariq Naeem said whenever an important American or British personality comes to Pakistan, innocent people are martyred in the name of militants.<ref>femalefirst.co.uk:Charles blamed for bombing</ref>

[edit] Offshoot

The Tanzeem-e-Islami is headed by Dr. Israr Ahmed <ref>Tanzeem e Islami</ref> is an offshoot of Jamaat-e-islami.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] Personalities

[edit] Islamic

The Jamaat is often mentioned as a major Islamic party, being the largest "religious party" in one of the largest Muslim countries in the world. Topics related to the wider discussion include: