Abdul Majeed Al-Zindani - Banned By US

Banned By US

On February 24, 2004, the US Treasury Department issued an order labeling Zindani a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist". The Department said that Zindani had a "long history of working with bin Laden, notably serving as one of his spiritual leaders", and that he "served as a contact for Ansar al-Islam (Al), a Kurdish-based terrorist organization linked to al-Qaeda". The Department also stated that it suspected students of his Al Iman University of assassinating three American missionaries, and "the number two leader for the Yemeni Socialist Party, Jarallah Omar".

Zindani founded the Charitable Society for Social Welfare (CSSW). Anwar al-Awlaki, who was at one time contacted by Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Malik Hasan, served as Vice President. During a 2004 terrorism trial in New York, FBI agent Brian Murphy testified that CSSW was a “front organization to funnel money to terrorists.” Al Awlaki also took classes and lectured at Iman University, headed by Zindani.

John Walker Lindh is also a former student of Iman University linked to terrorist groups.

Zindani's name was subsequently submitted to the UN 1267 Committee's list of individuals belonging to or associated with al-Qaeda. Among the factors offered to Guantanamo detainee Abdul Rahman Mohamed Saleh Naser's Administrative Review Board, justifying his continued extrajudicial detention, were:

1. "The detainee decided to go to Afghanistan after hearing and speaking with Sheik Al Zindani.
2. "Abd Al Majid Zandani was an active supporter of Usama Bin Laden. Zandani was involved in raising funds and recruiting volunteers for the Bin Laden organization. Zandani is also a religious and legal expert for Usama Bin Laden.
3. "Executive Order 13224 designates Shaykh Abd Al Majid Al Zindani as a person who commits, threatens to commit, or supports terrorism."

In mid-January 2010, Zindani said he would call for jihad in the event that US troops were sent to Yemen for the purpose of fighting al-Qaeda.