North Americans aiding Hekmatyar, a deadly misunderstanding

International terrorist Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, alleged recipient of an approximate $130,000 sent his way by former Kalamazoo-area congressman Mark Siljander, seems to have no trouble finding supporters on North American soil. Siljander, a former US delegate to the United Nations, was indicted yesterday for his part in an alleged terrorist fundraising ring that is accused of sending more than $130,000 to an al-Qaeda and Taliban supporter who has threatened U.S. and international troops in Afghanistan. “The money, sent to bank accounts in Peshawar, Pakistan in 2003 and 2004, was masked as donations to an orphanage located in buildings that Hekmatyar owned.” (Breitbart.com, Jan. 16, 2008).

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Siljander, who represented southwestern Michigan from 1981-87, was charged with money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. He allegedly lied about lobbying senators on behalf of an Islamic charity that authorities said was secretly sending funds to terrorists. The Islamic American Relief Agency is accused of paying Siljiander $50,000 for the lobbying—money that turned out to be stolen from the U.S. Agency for International Development. Hekmatyar, who once said that “killing one American soldier is more rewarded by God than killing 10 Afghan soldiers,” owns the Shamshatoo Refugee Camp, home to some 2,000 Afghan refugees about 25 kilometers southwest of Peshawar. Global Terrorism Analysis, Terrorism Monitor (Volume 5, Issue 10, May 24, 2007) says that both daily newspapers Shahaadat and Tanweer “are supported from Hezb-e-Islami’s stronghold, the Shamshatoo Refugee Camp.” The “orphans” supported by Hekmatayar, whose North American roots are impressive, are terrorists. Back in October 2001, when Canada Free Press was operating as print publication Toronto Free Press (TFP) the Taliban—host of terrorist Osama bin Laden—had its own telephone hotline in Toronto. Jihadists calling the Toronto Taliban hotline could leave voice messages, and hear recorded anti-American messages from a raging Hekmatayar. Telephone number 416-410-3107, then identified as the Voice of Islamic Afghanistan by a recorded message, was available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Voice of Islamic Afghanistan was said to be the primary source of information for local Taliban supporters who did not have access to the Internet. A busy signal had callers to the line waiting as long as four hours before being able to get through, proving that would-be Toronto jihadists had infinite patience. “Intelligence, of the type recorded and interpreted word-for-word for Toronto Free Press by a professional Afghan translator on Oct. 15, 2001 would be of prime interest to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency,” wrote TFP. “The intelligence, until this article not reported by any media outlet, reveals that in October controversial Hezb-I-Islami party leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar turned 12 anti-aircraft Stinger missiles over to the Taliban. …”It has been reported that Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has put at the disposal of the Taliban, his weapons which had been hidden at Spina Shega and other parts of Afghanistan, which include land-to-air, anti-aircraft missiles in order to confront American aggression,” said the recorded message on Oct. 15, 2002. Private investigators working on behalf of TFP were able to determine that Voice of Islamic Afghanistan, Toronto branch was a Bell Canada business account, in the name of a local Afghan businessman, who ran with family members an Islamic bookstore in a suburban shopping mall. Members of the local Afghan community said they were concerned that Canada Immigration had allowed at least one known Taliban member and “terrorist” access into Canada. “The deputy of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a killer of innocent Afghan civilians arrived this summer. He was detained briefly, then let go by Canadian Immigration officials and today is living right here in Toronto.” Local police swarmed the Islamic book store and shut it down, ending the Toronto Taliban hotline, at least the one up and running from the Islamic book store on Oct. 15, 2002. Meanwhile, www.mlive.com reports “James. R. Hobbs, Siljander’s lawyer said in a written statement that Siljander will plead not guilty” at his first opportunity to do so.” “Mark Siljander vehemently denies the allegations in the Indictment,” Hobbs said. “Hobbs said Siljander is “internationally recognized for his good faith attempts to bridge the gap between Christian and Muslim communities worldwide. “Hobbs said Siljander’s efforts are detailed in his forthcoming book, “A Deadly Misunderstanding; A Congressman’s Quest to bridge the Muslim Christian Divide.” It would be a classic “deadly misunderstanding” to ever think of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar as the patron saint of orphans.