RIYADH, 14 January 2003 — Dr. Saleh Al-Wohaibi, secretary-general of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), has slammed reports appearing in the Western media accusing the Riyadh-based organization of financing terrorism.
Dr. Al-Wohaibi said that these reports, which are part of a bigger conspiracy, are “concocted stories” published by individuals and groups with vested interests to malign the image of WAMY on the one hand and to brand Arabs and Muslims as terrorists on the other.
Dr. Al-Wohaibi was speaking while giving away certificates of appreciation to a large number of individuals and philanthropic organizations, who supported WAMY in organizing a recent international conference.
He said that “the operation and the accounts of this Muslim aid organization are both transparent and we have been working in closer cooperation with government agencies and some United Nations agencies.”
WAMY, he added, has been publishing an annual report detailing expenses, humanitarian aid extended to different organizations world over and its budgetary allocations. This aid organization has built more than 100 mosques and carried out thousands of other projects in more than 20 countries. A large number of students from over 70 countries have also been benefited from WAMY’s scholarship program.
Referring to reports about alleged raids carried out at certain WAMY offices, the secretary-general said that “no WAMY office has been raided anywhere in the world”. He was reacting to a report which appeared in a foreign newspaper which quoted a Pakistani security official as saying that the security authorities in Pakistan recently arrested a Sudanese who was working at WAMY’s office in Pakistan.
He said WAMY has been complying with the rules and regulations of the host country. Moreover, he said, WAMY does not interfere in the domestic affairs of any country. This aid organization has its direct presence in 22 countries. It has been carrying out massive aid operations in Africa and Eastern Europe. In Africa alone it has been spending some SR10 million to 15 million on various projects.
Referring to the solidarity campaign launched by WAMY for the Palestinians, Dr. Al-Wohaibi said the drive organized by the WAMY seeks to collect SR1 million through paying SR1 against each signature, which a contributor makes and the total amount will be consecrated for WAMY’s charitable project intended for the Palestinian people.
The WAMY, which is currently on expansion course, has set up several affiliated committees to serve the interests of various people. These committees include the Palestine Youth Committee, Eastern European Youth Committee, Islamic Welfare Committee, Kashmir Muslim Youth Committee and Committee of Central Asian Republics. It has six regional offices in the Arab world besides full-fledged offices in the US, Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe.
Islamic charities, particularly in Saudi Arabia, have come under fire since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks over their alleged role in funding terror networks.
A number of Saudi charities have figured on a list of organizations and individuals being sued for trillions of dollars by families of the Sept. 11 victims. The Saudi charities have strongly denied funding terror organizations, insisting that their accounts are strictly audited and supervised by the government.
The French Embassy In Riyadh refused to issue visas for 13 Islamic charity officials who were planning to attend an international conference for humanitarian organizations. The officials were consequently unable to attend the Paris Conference for Humanitarian NGOs held on Jan. 9-10.
