Call for Congressional Hearings Regarding American Children in Pakistani MadrassasPosted by Evan on July 11th, 2008
Recognizing that the story of the Khan brothers is just the tip of the iceberg, Rep. Michael McCaul has asked for congressional hearings to determine just how many American children are currently in madrassas in Pakistan.
In a letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman and Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, McCaul writes “I would like to address one specific issue that has come to my attention. Madrassas in Pakistan have come under intense international scrutiny for their anti-Western sentiment and links to terrorism since 9/11, and since the London subway bombings three years ago today, July 7, 2005. Three of the four suicide bombers who carried out the London plot were British nationals of Pakistani descent. Two attended madrassas in Pakistan. The Binoria madrassa is known to recruit Americans most aggressively. It prominently displays a banner supporting the Taliban. And it is documented that Osama bin Laden spoke to students at Binoria before the 9/11 attacks.
While these religious schools purport to serve a purpose and educate Islamic children, great concern has grown over the increasing number of “political” madrassas. They mass-produce extremists with a political agenda, including a narrow view of society and no tolerance of Western culture. They radicalize Muslims and are seminaries for jihad. As a result, President Musharref and the newly elected civilian government have both stated the need to register and reform the Madrassa’s in Pakistan, and to remove any foreign students and return them to their home countries. Despite this pledge there has been little follow up by either the United States or Pakistani governments to address the issue. While in Pakistan I raised the issue with President Musharref who reiterated the importance of achieving this goal.
In the meantime we have precious little information about the status and number of Americans who are in these Madrassa’s. I am sure we can all agree that a radically trained terrorist with an American passport is a considerable security threat to this country. I intend to introduce a resolution on the issue which I hope you will support and cosponsor. I would also like to request a hearing on the issue so that the House Foreign Affairs Committee can properly investigate the depth of this problem, and to find out what plans the administration has to address it.