The Nigerian based Boko Haram Islamist group is responsible for over 900 deaths.
Members of the Islamic sect, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the 2011 Christmas day bomb blasts in Madalla, Niger State and Jos, the plateau state capital, that left 28 people dead. (Nigeria A-Z)
Now there is a report that a British Islamic charity is funding Boko Haram.
Al Ahram reported:
The UK authorities are looking into an alleged possible link between a British charity organization and the Nigerian Boko Haram extremist Islamist group.
The UK Charity Commission (CC) has confirmed, for the first time, that it is talking to different departments, regarding allegations that Al Muntada Al Islami Trust is providing financial support to the Boko Haram group.
“We confirm we have been contacted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Metropolitan Police (MP) in relation to this matter,” the CC spokesperson told Ahram Online.
This confirmation reflects the UK authorities’ growing concern about possible relations between London-registered charities and Islamic extremism.
However, she added, that her organization is not investigating the charity Al Muntada Al Islami Trust.The CC is very keen not to give an impression that there is no legal or formal investigation on the charity’s behaviour.
“We are engaging with the charity’s trustees”, the spokesperson said.
She confirmed that the trustees of Al Muntada Al Islami Trust “have and continue to fully cooperate with us.”
Ahram Online understands that the MP and the FCO are concerned about previous media reports linking Al Mundtada Al Islami Trust and Boko Haram.
The group’s name means “the education is forbidden” and is seen in Europe as an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group.