The Dawatul Islamia of Korea, an anti-South Korean Islamic organization detected by the government in April, was confirmed to be a branch of an Islamic political party in Bangladesh. Rep. Kim Jae-gyeong of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP), who revealed the presence of the group on Oct. 13, said yesterday the Dawatul Islamia of Korea was confirmed as the Korean branch of the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, a party espousing Islamic fundamentalism. He said the group based in Anyang, just south of Seoul, was reported to maintain an anti-American stance in Bangladesh.
The lawmaker said he confirmed the fact during the parliamentary inspection on the Ministry of Justice on Friday, citing a report by the immigration office that was based on probes by the nation's intelligence agency. According to the report, the anti-Korean Islamic group had tried to lure Muslims illegally residing in Korea. On Oct. 13, Rep. Kim said that the immigration office deported five undocumented migrant workers from Bangladesh who were deported in April for establishing the Islamic group in South Korea. Kim said one of those deported was a member of the Jamaat-e-Ismai. He was found to have sent 60 million won to the party after raising the money from his followers in South Korea. The man set up the Islamic group in Anyang, where a mosque is located, since he became the imam of the mosque in August 2000. This is the first time authorities have detected an anti-South Korean group of foreign residents here. | "Normally, our anti-South Korean groups are composed of South Koreans." |
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