Islamic NGO leader baffled over FBI linking him to terrorists

 

Islamic NGO Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam general manager Abu Bakar Abdul is baffled at the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) linking him to terrorists.

Denying any involvement with terrorist groups, the activist said he was unaware that his name was included in the FBI's Terrorist Screening Centre list.

“I was not informed directly (about it). (I) only found out about it through friends and copies of the letter that had gone viral.

“I'm baffled as to how my name could be linked (to terrorists) because as far I know, I'm not involved with any quarters, individuals or groups labelled as terrorists, either in the country or abroad.

“I have also never sponsored or given any form of help or support to such a group. I feel that’s very strange,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

He would seek further clarification from the Foreign Affairs Ministry on how such a thing could happen.

Abu Bakar (above) is one of three Malaysian leaders from different Islamic NGOs who have been placed on the FBI list for being actively involved in sending aid to West Asia.

Exclusion from Op Ihsan

According to a report from the New Straits Times, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has instructed the three individuals to be excluded from involvement in Op Ihsan, which manages the delivery of humanitarian aid from Malaysia to Palestine.

Op Ihsan secretariat chairperson Jismi Johari said he received a letter from the Foreign Affairs Ministry's West Asia division notifying him about the three individuals on the FBI list.

He was surprised and disappointed by the document being leaked on social media as it was an official ministry notification and it could create a negative image of the three individuals affected.

However, he said he would give the three individuals the benefit of the doubt.

“As much as possible, I do not want this matter to cause a commotion. But it's a pity for them when this letter has been leaked.

“They have to answer (to it), people's perception of them is what we don't want. We don't even know the extent of this FBI investigation, it might be just a suspicion,” Jismi said. - Mkini