Jamaat-e-Islami
Jamaat-e-Islami (
Urdu:
جماعتِ اسلامی,
"Islamic Assembly"
Jamaat,
JI) is an Islamic political movement founded in
Lahore by
Syed Ab'ul Ala Maududi on
26 August 1941.[
1] 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.
Jamaat's purpose was to promote Islamic values and practices in South Asia. 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.
* 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. [
2]
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 Federation 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.
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).
Possible Terrorist links
In a 1993
US Congressional Report, it is alleged 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."[
3]
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."
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/hum.htmKhurshid 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."[
4]
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."[
5]
The
Tanzeem-e-Islami is headed by
Dr. Israr Ahmed.[
6] is an offshoot of Jamaat-e-islami.
*
List of political parties in Pakistan*
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh*
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind*
Pakistan National Alliance*
Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba*
Students Islamic Organisation of India*
1971 East Pakistan Intellectuals massacre*
Jamaati*
Jama'at*
Islamic Fundamentalism*
Hizbul MujahideenPersonalities
*
Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi*
Qazi Hussain Ahmad*
Khurshid Ahmad*
Liaqat BalochIslamic
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:
*
Egyptian Islamic Jihad *
Mujahedeen *
Sayyid Qutb*
Hasan al-Banna*
Yusuf al-Qaradawi*
Abdullah Yusuf Azzam*
Dr Israr AhmedIslam-related
*
Qur'an*
Shari'a*
HadithOther topics related to Muslims in South Asia
*
Sayed Ahmad Khan*
Jamaat-e-Islami (Pakistan) Homepage*
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh Homepage*
Profile: Jamaat-e-Islami & Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi GlobalSecurity.org *
Bangladesh ruling party expels MP BBC, 25 November 2005
*
Pakistan rulers claim poll boost BBC, 7 October 2005
*
Who's afraid of the six-party alliance? BBC, 17 August 2005
*
Pakistan 'hate' paper crackdown BBC, 16 August 2005
*
Radical links of UK's 'moderate' Muslim group Martin Bright,
The Observer, 14 August 2005
*
Congressional Report: The New Islamist International(from
FAS site)
Bill McCollum,
House Republican Research Committee, 1 February 1993
