Never met Bin Laden: ‘Global terrorist’ Abdul Rehman Makki denies Al-Qaeda links in new video

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Abdul Rehman Makki, who has been designated by the UN as a global terrorist after China lifted its technical hold, has released a video denying links to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Makki, the brother-in-law of the Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, however, did not speak about the 26/11 attack that killed 166 people.

The UN Security Council’s 1267 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee added 68-year-old Makki to its list of designated terrorists on Monday, subjecting him to an asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo after years of efforts by India and its allies.

“I believe that the grounds for my listing are based on heresy and disinformation by the Indian government. I never met Osama Bin Laden, Ayman Al-Zawahiri or Abdullah Azam as alleged by some propaganda reports,” Makki said.

He has been in jail since 2019, where he is serving multiple sentences in terror finance cases along with Saeed and some other LeT and JuD senior leaders.

He said that he had not studied or taught at an Islamic university and had never had any contact with Abdullah Azam, Ayman Al Zawahiri or Bin Laden.