JuD, listed as a charity organisation in Pakistan, is labeled by India and the United Nations as a terrorist organisation.
In an interview to Dawn.com, the JuD chief revealed that he had studied under the tutelage of Sheikh Bin Baz, who had also taught bin Laden and al-Zawahiri.
Bin Baz was the grand mufti (scholar) of Saudi Arabia from 1993 until his death in May 1999.
AfPak head and a retired Central Investigation Agency (CIA) officer, Bruce Riedel in his book titled “The Search for al Qaeda” described Bin Baz as one who “preached a very reactionary brand of Islam, proclaiming the earth is flat, banning high heels for women as sexually provocative, barring men from wearing Western suits and imposing other restrictions on behavior.
When asked whether it was a coincidence that he studied under the same cleric who taught bin Laden and Ayman al al-Zawahiri, Saeed called it an "honour" for both the students and the teacher.
The most wanted man by India; Saeed holds a master’s degree in Islamic Studies and also was a teacher at the Engineering University, Punjab.
Saeed also mentioned about his meeting with al Qaeda leader bin Laden.
“Yes once I had met Osama Bin Laden but that is an old story I met him probably in 1982 in Saudi Arabia and in that meeting we just waved at each other.”
Responding to a question about about reports regarding financial help by bin Laden to establish Lashkar-i-Taiba back in 1989-90, Saeed denied it, calling it a “baseless allegation.”
On being asked whether how it was possible that he could not have met bin Laden in Afghanistan while he was waging jihad next door in Indian Kashmir, Saeed brushed aside the question saying, “put this matter aside.”
Doubt over bin Laden's presence in Abbottabad
Speaking about the May 2 raid by US Navy SEALs in which bin Laden was killed, the JuD chief, said that the US was the biggest terrorist who were yet to prove any of the allegations against the slain al Qaeda leader in a court of law. He declared his killing as an extra judicial act, expressing doubt over bin Laden’s presence in the Abbotabad compound, at all.
COMMENTS (31)
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@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Does it matter if some people have doubt that the chap killed by the US Navy Seal was really OBL? OBL was the US's enemy number 1 and the Uncle is happy that it got rid of the bearded satan; what difference it makes if some people in the land of pure out of their love for the conspiracy theories and fundamentalism doubt that it was really the "Sheikh". So let the US be happy and those eternal doubters also be happy in their belief that their holy-man is still alive and dwelling in some caves of Pakistani badlands!
It is time to undo these historical distortions. Figures that had been poisoning the minds of innocent people should be brought to justice. Additionally, those who want to get back in the mainstream should be given a chance, both by the society and the administration as well. People have seen a lot of destruction. There is also a need to put a ban on materials that are used as components in IEDs and other explosives.
One gets the impression that there is a drone on the lookout for Hafiz Saeed. This man is the next OBL. You never know when these guys will turn against you.
@John B: @Mirza: Why don'r John B & Mirza move themselves to India or US, if they've that much of blind liking for them?
This man is an embarrassment to Pakistan and is giving the whole world the impression that Islam is followed by savages, and that Pakistan is populated by savages. If you want to know why Islam is getting a bad name, then look no further than Hafiz Saeed and his growing number of fundamentalists.
Isn't it time he was put behind bars for the many inflammatory remarks he uttered? What about his financial statements? Does he get a free pass?
@Zeta: That's not exactly how it works. But, yes, it's 100% possible to recommend, kill the cookie and do it again as many times as your attention span can hold it. That's probably why some of the most extremist comments get up in the 100s. They treat spreading online propaganda like it's their day job. (for some it might actually be)
@Zeta: MODERATORS Zeta is right, you gotta fix this bug, I have experience too, If you have latest version of FireFox and refresh, you can Recommend again
Mohammad Ali Siddiqui@ Killing of OBL is a mystry like 9/11. Need to wait for truth.
MODERATORS Important There is one indian guy usually post with the name of Zaid Hamid and Ahmed Qureshi. He manipulates the result of comments. Every time he refreshes the page, he thumbs up comments of his choice and thus making it appear as the majority of readers agree with that comment. I hope you take notice and introduce login based comments board
Allah save Pakistan from evil acts of 3 students of the same teacher. Abdullah Azzam or bin BAZ doest matter
Bin baz was a puppet of saudi royal like most of muftis in saudi arabia. Bin Baz was a salafi n support of the royals. Whereas bin laden was the opposite.
@colonel. So Kasab isnt a Pakistani?
@Colonel: Kasab is Pakistani ----- come on wake up, come out of this denial.
The allegation against Bin Laden and all captured so called terrorists need to be proven under law. Just because we dont agree with this persons thinking doesn't mean that we can let the US get a free slip of our approval. What we need to do is bring these guys to the table and have debates and discussions with them. We should not isolate our own people. We need to talk to them and tone down their hatred for the US because even though the foreign policy of the US is horrible and disgusting, the people and their society is not. They have contributed a lot towards the world and we need to show these people that. Making fun of these people will not help.
Look at the kind and gentle person sitting next to him. This picture says it all about this group.
Hafiz Saeed said "He declared his killing as an extra judicial act, expressing doubt over bin Laden’s presence in the Abbotabad compound, at all." How could it be extra judicial killing when OBL was not even there? He is contradicting his own words!
@Colonel, Completely agree
Dear Hafiz, don't try to get the same popularity, otherwise I hope you are wise. It is a pride? what OBL did for Islam? you guys will never understand, we don't need people like OBL, MO or AAZ who are defamed Islam. These people were hidding in caves and pushing people for Jihad, It will be too late when people understand the real leader.
Obviously the same teacher polluted all these three students who became a paine for everyone who has brain and can think and see all the hatred these students preach and bring Muslims in bad repute defame Islam. What a curse ------ such students and such teachers.
Send him to India, they want him there. Half of PAK problem will be solved.
I just read wikipedina on Abd al-Aziz ibn Abd Allah ibn Baaz . If Bin Laden had followed him, he would never have done what he did, the article said that Bin Laden criticized and denounced the Sheikh. Also the sheikh had tens of thousands of students, lumping three only does not make sense to me.
yes...the same Sheikh Bin Baz who said earth is flat...!
This is what you call sensationalism. Way to go ET
Bin Baz didn't preach the earth was flat, it was merely flase propaganda against him...though not surprised Bruce Riedel believes this. Bin Baz had thousands of students so why is this front page news? seriously wow....
Imagine them in class. Acha bachon ! A for apple B for Bomb.
Dawn news also reported without any verification that Kasab is Pakistani, don't know what has happened to our media, I would like to ask Dawn now whats the point of sharing this piece of news just after a Kashmir day ? Is there some kind of agenda setting or it happened by a chance ?? Why this man being associated with Al Qaeda??
like democracy our media is also very immature, in race of getting popularity and TRP media outlet's are ready to compromise on every thing
Dawn news also reported without any verification that Kasab is Pakistani, don't know what has happened to our media, I would like to ask Dawn now whats the point of sharing this piece of news just after a Kashmir day ? Is there some kind of agenda setting or it happened by a chance ??like democracy our media is also very immature, in race of getting popularity and TRP media outlet's are ready to compromise on every thing
please... bin laden studied under abdullah azzam... Bin Baaz was an enemy of Bin Laden all his life! Bin Baz supported the Royal family while Bin Laden was opposed to them. Search Abdullah Azzam the Palestenian scholar
If OBL was not in the Abbottabad Compound then who was the person that was killed by US Navy SEAL's in May 2011 and his body was thrown in the sea?
Had US released the pictures of the dead body of OBL on the very next day of operation, there would have been no ambiguity and debate whether it was OBL or someone else..