Legislation Introduced in Congress to Account for American Children in Radical Islamic Madrassas in Pakistan

(Atlanta, GA) — Responding to the release of the film the “Karachi Kids“, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) has introduced legislation seeking an accounting of how many American children in in radical Islamic madrassas in Pakistan. H.Res 1336 encourages “the United States Secretary of State to work with the government of Pakistan to secure the return to the United States of all American children being educated in madrassas in Pakistan.”

The legislation was introduced as a response to the release of the film the “Karachi Kids,” a documentary of American children in a Taliban-backed madrassa in Karachi, Pakistan. The former deputy director of counterterrorism at the FBI said the film also raised the “antennae of the FBI.”

H. RES. 1336 Encouraging the United States Secretary of State to work with the Government of Pakistan to secure the return to the United States of all American children being educated in madrassas in Pakistan.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

July 10, 2008Mr. MCCAUL of Texas (for himself, Mr. GALLEGLY, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr. CANTOR, and Mr. SHUSTER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

RESOLUTION

Encouraging the United States Secretary of State to work with the Government of Pakistan to secure the return to the United States of all American children being educated in madrassas in Pakistan. Whereas numerous acts of terrorism can be linked to certain madrassas, or Islamic schools, in Pakistan, as reported by the Chicago Tribune, the Voice of America, the Heritage Foundation, and several other sources;

Whereas Afghanistan’s Taliban movement itself began among students attending radical Pakistani madrassas;

Whereas extremist madrassas begin the radicalization of children as young as five years old;

Whereas radical Pakistani madrassas have been called an `incubator for Jihad’ by Jihad Watch and Eric Ellis of the Bulletin/Newsweek;

Whereas the former Pakistani Government, recognizing the dangers of a new generation of homegrown terrorists, ordered all foreign students in madrassas to return to their homelands;

Whereas hundreds of American children have been sent to Pakistan to study in madrassas and have not returned home;

Whereas American children are being deprived of their right to an impartial formal education, including instruction in math, English, history, and other essential subjects;

Whereas American children in the radical Jamia Binoria madrassa in Karachi, Pakistan, tell of beatings and torture suffered at the hands of their instructors;

Whereas the radical Jamia Binoria madrassa allowed Osama Bin Laden to address its students on the importance of jihad just before the attacks against the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001;

Whereas the radical Jamia Binoria madrassa is, according to Asia Times, the place where Al-Qaeda and the Taliban formed their partnership;

Whereas the recent elections in Pakistan are proof of the Pakistani people’s commitment to true democratic reform;

Whereas the new, democratically elected Government of Pakistan has expressed its willingness to be a responsible and active member of the global community;

Whereas Pakistan has been a committed partner in the global war on terror; and

Whereas it is in the interest of both the Pakistani and United States Governments to continue to work together to combat radical terrorist ideology: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Secretary of State should work with the Government of Pakistan to immediately identify and return to the United States all American children currently being educated in madrassas in Pakistan.

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

Imran Raza and the producers of the film are available for interview to discuss the discovery of American children being recruited to radical Islamic madrassas. Please call (404) 524-2244 or email News@KarachiKids.com to schedule an interview.