Many Islamic charities in the United States and around the world have been shut down for funding terrorism, including what was once the largest Islamic charity in the United States, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), as well as the Global Relief Foundation (GRF), the Benevolence International Foundation (BIF), and many others. This is because the charitable giving required of Muslims, zakat, can be given to fund jihad, a meritorious activity according to Islamic law. And the “Palestinian” jihad has a special appeal, as it is directed against the Jews, whom the Qur’an designates as the worst enemies of the Muslims (5:82).
“Aid group accused of Hamas ties put on ‘terrorist’ list, raided,” The Canadian Press, April 29, 2014 (thanks to Kenneth):
A Canadian organization that provided humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza has been formally branded a terrorist group before the start of a court battle over the revocation of its charitable status.
The move came as the RCMP confirmed it had raided locations in Ontario and Quebec as part of a terrorism-financing investigation.
In a letter to the International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy, the RCMP said the federal government had added the group to a list of “terrorist entities” as of April 24.
“IRFAN is now classified as a ‘terrorist group’ under Canadian law,” the letter from Supt. Stephane Bonin states.
“As a consequence, any property or asset belonging to IRFAN is now frozen.”
The letter offers no reason for the listing decision but Canada Revenue Agency has said the organization supported Hamas, itself branded as a terrorist organization.
A statement Tuesday from Public Affairs Minister Steven Blaney noted CRA’s contention — which was to be argued in court next week — that IRFAN provided aid to groups run by officials of, or who supported Hamas.
IRFAN, based in Mississauga, Ont., sent about $14.6 million in resources to “various organizations associated with Hamas” between 2005 and 2009, the statement said.
Charitable status revokedThe non-profit IRFAN was due in Federal Court of Appeal on May 6 to contest a 2011 CRA decision to revoke its charitable status because of its alleged ties to Hamas and failure to keep proper records.
No one for IRFAN was available to comment, but a lawyer speaking for the group condemned the listing as an attack on humanitarian support for Palestinians.
IRFAN did not know the terrorist listing was in the works and had no opportunity to respond or offer its side of the story, Ottawa-based lawyer Yavar Hameed said in an interview.
There’s no evidence the group did any direct funding of Hamas, he said.
“This listing happens days before we are to present arguments for the first time to the Federal Court of Appeal, so we’re very concerned about the timing with which this listing happens which completely undermines any ability for this organization to work as a charity,” Hameed said.
“On its face, we believe it is an unfair and unconstitutional decision that has been taken.”
Hameed also said the listing was a “nail in the coffin” for Canadian humanitarian support for “orphans and destitute” Palestinians and wondered if the decision was politically motivated.
Even acting for IRFAN as a lawyer puts him in a “tenuous” position because any support for the group could be seen to run afoul of the Criminal Code, he said, adding it is only the second time a Canadian domestic organization has been listed as terrorist group.
Office, residence raided by RCMPMeanwhile, RCMP said Tuesday it had raided IRFAN’s head office in Mississauga and a residence in Quebec as part of a terrorism-financing investigation.
“An extensive amount of documentary evidence along with stored media, money and other records were seized,” police said in a statement.
RCMP offered no further details of Monday’s raids.
Blaney’s statement noted “severe penalties” are in place for those who run afoul of the listing law.
“Canada will not tolerate terrorist activities including the financing of terrorist groups,” Blaney said.
“IRFAN-Canada has knowingly financed Hamas, a listed terrorist entity, for many years.”
In revoking its charitable status that followed two audits over 10 years, CRA referred to unproven suggestions from the U.S. government that IRFAN had ties to an Hamas-linked American aid group.
It also claims IRFAN “repeatedly misrepresented its fundraising activities to the public” and that the revocation decision was fair and legal….
mariam rove says
are any of them going to be deported? M
Angemon says
God bless Stephen Harper.
jewdog says
Charity for the purpose of murdering infidels…
It’s just the immoral “virtue” of Islam, which otherwise would be considered criminal behavior in any other, saner, ethical system.
Perhaps apocryphal, but allegedly Ataturk called Islam the absurd theology of an immoral beduin, which poisons our lives.
Bezelel says
More of that parasitic behavior exposed. islam, the lousy religion.
Kasey says
Just another example of evil in action![but not any more]
mortimer says
From one day to the next, fewer people are ‘shocked’ or ‘surprised’.
Canadian citizenship is a favorite with terrorists.
Salah says
‘Hameed also said the listing was a “nail in the coffin” for Canadian humanitarian support for “orphans and destitute” Palestinians’
No, it’s not. It’s a nail in the coffin of political Islam (i.e. another nail in the coffin of Islam itself.)
……………………
‘..adding it is only the second time a Canadian domestic organization has been listed as terrorist group.’
Hopefully the third time will be the listing of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group.
Will Doohan says
Will CAIR-Canada be next?
Stan Squires says
I am from Vancouver, Canada and I condemns the Canadian gov. for calling IRFAN a terrorist org.This shows the contempt and hatred the Canadian gov. got for the Palestinian People.
It is the Jewish National Fund that should be banned in Canada as a charity.This money is used to destroy Palestinian homes,farmland and build illegal Israeli settlements. It is also used to recruit soliders for the Israeli army.It is the Canadian gov. that supports Israeli terrorism.IRFAN should be supported by all Canadians.
dumbledoresarmy says
Okay, their property and assets have been frozen.
If the Canadian government really *got* what Islam and the jihad are all about, that Enemy property and those assets would not merely be “frozen” but *seized* and *liquidated*….and the proceeds would be used to assist and compensate those who have suffered injury and/ or bereavement or loss of livelihood as a result of Hamas jihad terror raids. First on the list would be Canadian citizens – whether Jewish or non-Jewish – who had thus suffered. Then the Israelis would be invited to identify Israeli citizens who qualified as recipients.