DAR AL HARB - AUSTRALIA: SYDNEY'S SEFTON MOSQUE & ITS MOVEMENT FOR RECRUITING MOSLEM JIHADISTS

Mosque group 'in a line to jihad'
by Natalie O'Brien

THE Islamic group accused of trying to seize control of Sydney's Sefton mosque is part of a movement described as a recruiting ground for al-Qa'ida in a new terrorism intelligence report.

The group attempting the takeover has members who follow the Tablighi Jamaat stream of Islam, described this week bythe private US intelligence group Stratfor as an "indirect line to terrorism".

Members of the Tablighi movement have recently been linked to a terrorist cell in Spain that was planning a bomb attack in Barcelona.

During a series of raids last week, Spanish police seized bomb-making materials and arrested 14 men who were said to be members of the Tablighi.

The Stratfor report says that on the surface, the Tablighi is a peaceful, egalitarian and devotional movement stressing faith and personal development, but it has links to the world of jihadism.

"The TJ organisation also serves as a de facto conduit for Islamist extremists and for groups such as al-Qa'ida to recruit new members," the report says.

It is used by jihadis as a cover for both recruiting activities and for travel. "Significantly, the Tablighi recruits do intersect with the world of radical Islamism when they travel to Pakistan to receive their initial training," it says.

Western intelligence agencies, including Britain's MI5 and the FBI in the US, have been monitoring the activities of the group.

However, the Stratfor report points out that the organisation "unintentionally" serves as a front for or conduit to militant organisations.

"There is no evidence that the Tablighis act willingly as a global jihadist recruiting arm."

Members of the Tablighi in Sydney have been accused of attempting to oust the imam at the Sefton mosque, in Sydney's southwest, so they can take control and bring in their own Tablighi sheik.

Attempts by the The Australian to contact Talbighi for a response were last night unsuccessful.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Mosque group 'in a line to jihad'

DAR AL HARB - U.K.: LONDON'S MEGA MOSQUE, TABLIGHI JAMAAT & THE U.K. GOVERNMENT

Setback for Muslim sect's 'mega-mosque' in London
Joanna Sugden

An ultra-orthodox Islamic sect has delayed plans to build a "mega-mosque" in East London after the Government warned it could "raise tensions" in the community.

Tablighi Jamaat had intended to submit plans to build Britain's largest place of worship next to the Olympic site, this September. But the group told Times Online that no plans would now be submitted until next year at the earliest.

More than 48,000 people have petitioned the Government to “abolish plans for the £100m mega-mosque” with a capacity for 12,000 worshippers beside the London 2012 Olympic park in Newham, East London.

The Government said that the issue could "raise tensions" and did not expect any planning application to be made in the “near future”.

A statement in response to the petition, published on the Downing Street website, said: “We understand from Newham Council that there is no current planning permission or application for a mosque and Newham Council do not expect a planning application in the near future.”

A spokesperson for Tablighi Jamaat said that plans for the 18-acre site in Newham were being drawn up, but he added:

“There's no expectation of any planning application before the end of the year, because of the size of the application."

The Government called the proposed mosque, which would hold four times as many worshippers as Britain’s largest Anglican cathedral “controversial” and said it had to take into account the views of local communities.

“All involved should ensure that discussions are conducted in a manner that respects the views of all sections of our communities and in a way that does not raise tensions in local areas,” the statement said.

Tablighi Jamaat's spokesperson said the group did not think the plans were controversial but admitted there would be a lot of public interest in the application,

"It should not be looked at any differently from any other faith building" he said.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Setback for Muslim sect's 'mega-mosque' in London