Holy Land Foundation assets seized!

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Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
Kashif

12/04/01 at 11:44:39

US targets Hamas finances

The Bush administration has frozen the assets of a US-based charity and two other groups accused of financing the militant Palestinian organisation Hamas.

President George W Bush named the charity as the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, one of the largest Muslim charities in the US.

The two financial groups are Al Aqsa International Bank and the investment group Beit El-Mal Holding Company. Both companies are based in Palestinian-controlled territory.

Mr Bush said all three organisations had direct links to Hamas, which has taken responsibility for the latest suicide attacks in Israel which killed at least 25 people and injured 200.

Mr Bush said money raised by the Texas-based Holy Land Foundation had been used by Hamas to indoctrinate children and train suicide bombers.

"Those who do business with terrorists will do no business with the United States", he told reporters.

The US administration had planned to move against the three groups later this month, but decided to act after a weekend that marked one of the deadliest chapters in the 14-month Palestinian uprising against Israel occupation.

Four US offices of the Holy Land Foundation, which has raised $13 million last year, have been closed by federal officers.

Foundation denies Hamas links

The foundation earlier denied that it was a front for Hamas, which is already on a State Department list of terrorist organisations.

"The foundation has never provided funds, services, or any other form of support to Hamas or any other group that advocates, sponsors, or endorses terrorism, terrorist acts, or violence in any form or for any purpose", the charity said in a statement published on its website.

The charity says its mission is to provide mainly humanitarian aid to Palestinian refugees.

It is unclear what assets the two other organisations, Al Aqsa and Beit El-Mal, have in the United States.

Since the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington, the Bush administration has taken several steps to disrupt the financing of groups it accuses of terrorism.

It has tightened laws controlling money laundering, ordered the freeze of assets of numerous suspected organisations and individuals and closed money-transfer businesses suspected of aiding militant groups.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_1691000/1691961.stm

NS
Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
Arsalan

12/05/01 at 00:20:28

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY

In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FREEZE ON GROUP'S ASSETS QUESTIONED BY U.S. MUSLIMS

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - 12/4/2001) - National American Muslim organizations
today asked President Bush to reconsider his decision to freeze the assets
of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), one of the
nation's largest Muslim charities.

The charity had been targeted by pro-Israel organizations and individuals
for several years because of what they said was the group's support for
Palestinian militants. HLF officials have consistently denied those charges
and no one has made public any concrete evidence to support today's action.
The only specific accusation made against HLF has been that among the
thousands of Palestinians who received its relief aid were the children of
suicide bombers.

In a joint statement issued today, the American Muslim Alliance (AMA),
American Muslim Council (AMC), Council on American-Islamic Relations
(CAIR), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Islamic Circle of North
America (ICNA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs
Council (MPAC), and Muslim Student Association of USA and Canada, said:

"American Muslims support President Bush's effort to cut off funding for
terrorism and we call for a peaceful resolution to the Middle East
conflict. These goals will not be achieved by taking food out of the mouths
of Palestinian orphans or by succumbing to politically-motivated smear
campaigns by those who would perpetuate Israel's brutal occupation.

"No relief group anywhere in the world should be asked to question hungry
orphans about their parent's religious beliefs, political affiliations or
legal status. Those questions are not asked of recipients of public
assistance whose parents are imprisoned or executed in the United States,
and they should not be a litmus test for relief in Palestine.

"Charity is a duty for people of all faiths. In fact, it is one of the five
'pillars' of Islam. Islamic charities in this country help American Muslims
fulfill their religious obligation to help orphans and the needy. The
frozen assets therefore belonged not to HLF, but to the entire Muslim
community. This action is particularly disturbing, coming as it does during
the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a time when Muslims make many of their
annual charitable donations.

"We ask that President Bush reconsider what we believe is an unjust and
counterproductive move that can only damage America's credibility with
Muslims in this country and around the world and could create the
impression that there has been a shift from a war on terrorism to an attack
on Islam."

- END -

-----

HLF'S STATEMENT ON THE FREEZING OF THEIR ASSETS

Below is a statement from the Holy Land Foundation released early Tuesday
after the Bush Administration froze the organization's assets.

"The Holy Land Foundation denies allegations that it provides any financial
support to terrorist groups or individuals.

The foundation is a humanitarian organization that has worked to serve the
needy both at home and abroad since 1989.

We feel the Holy Land Foundation has been unfairly targeted in the
nationwide smear campaign to undermine Muslims and the institutions that
serve them.

The decision by the U.S. government to seize the charitable donations of
Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan is an affront to millions of
Muslim Americans who entrust charities like ours to assist in fulfilling
their religious obligations.

We are confident that the Holy Land Foundation will eventually be cleared
of these allegations."

-----

Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
bhaloo

12/05/01 at 01:12:00

slm

THis was really surprising. I just payed my zakat this month, and was thinking of sending it to the Holy Land Foundation, but instead opted for Islamic Relief.

Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
amal

12/05/01 at 10:18:00

slm,

I wonder what is next ?

Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
Kashif

12/05/01 at 11:23:16

assalaamu alaikum

I'm not surprised at all. I remember a few years ago, a visiting speaker was saying in private and in public that the field for da'wah was being restricted more and more, and that we should take every opportunity we had/have to spread the Message beforethe noose is completely tightened. That first of all the target of their 'attack's whether military or otherwise would be those who were the most visible of the Islamic groups, and then once they had cracked down on those, they would go for the rest.

I don't think that the imams of kufr, Bush, Blair, etc. feel any need to abide by such laws as outlined in the documents listing human rights or principles of justice.. as soon as they feel a need to revoke these, they will.

Kashif
Wa Salaam

NS
Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
Rashid

12/05/01 at 16:10:08

[slm]

What's the big deal? Shaykh Bush has already repeated numerous times that this is not a war against Islam and Muslims. So just wait for the next Iftar at the White House, and the Eid congratulations letter, and everything will be OK.

[wlm]

Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
se7en

12/14/01 at 22:53:42

ANOTHER U.S. MUSLIM CHARITY SHUT DOWN

GLOBAL RELIEF FOUNDATION REACTS TO FREEZE ORDER
Business Wire, 12/14/2001

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - In response to government action freezing its assets,
the Global Relief Foundation made the following statement:

"A compound tragedy has occurred today. We just commemorated the
three-month anniversary of the first one. The second was inflicted this
afternoon when the assets of Global Relief Foundation were frozen by our
government. By halting medicine, food and other humanitarian aid, we risk
the slow starvation and gruesome death in parts of the Muslim world that
rely on such badly needed aid.

In return for a false sense of security, our government has inflicted a
great tragedy on countless innocent victims. "For weak, suffering and
innocent victims, the timing of this action could not have been worse. This
is the month of Ramadan, when Muslim-Americans are most generous in opening
up their pocketbooks to help those in need. With only two days remaining,
while maximum resources were making their way through GRF, the assets were
frozen and the group's world-wide humanitarian operations were immediately
halted. While GRF fully expects to be vindicated, with its assets one day
released, this action to halt the flow of charitable aid from the most
generous nation in the world will forever cast a blemish on America's
reputation to give to the world's needy.

"As President Bush prepares to host Muslim children in the White House to
celebrate the holy day of Eid-ul-Fitr, we ask him to explain why
Muslim-Americans cannot send aid to Afghan, Palestinian and other children
in Muslim regions through Muslim charities. Why must religiously obligated
charity destined to help the freezing, starving children of Afghanistan
languish in a U.S. bank on this holy day and beyond?

"Representatives and supporters of Global Relief Foundation (GRF), a
non-profit humanitarian organization founded in 1992, strongly deny any
links to terrorism. We are in the business of helping innocent civilians
and take every precaution to ensure our aid does not go to support or
subsidize any nefarious activity. Just as we would call the police if our
collection box or computer equipment were being stolen, we would certainly
alert the authorities if we had reason to believe the intended humanitarian
purpose of our aid were being subverted to harm innocent lives.

"GRF understands and appreciates both the seriousness and urgency of
identifying potential threats to the United States and of locating
terrorist operatives and those who sponsor them. At the same time, GRF also
emphasizes the equal seriousness and urgency of conducting such
investigations with precision and care. GRF intends to fully cooperate with
the investigation and seeks a dialogue with federal authorities in order to
determine standards of conduct and suspicious activity reporting. We owe a
religious and legal obligation to ensure that this money goes to intended
victims of disaster, famine, war and terrorism.

"Our national security interests are best guarded through the good will
generated from acts of kindness. It is no coincidence that American Muslims
are perceived by Muslims throughout the world as their
benefactors-in-chief. By importing this generosity, the U.S. will foster
genuine admiration, a form of public diplomacy that cannot be bought with a
billion-dollar PR campaign or photo opportunities with Muslim-Americans. By
shutting the flow of this aid to the Muslim world, we risk losing the one
aspect that could make us rise above any other developed nation: acts of
giving."

CONTACT: Global Relief Foundation, Bridgeview
Roger Simmons, 240/603-7183 URL: http://www.businesswire.com

Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
se7en

12/14/01 at 22:54:03

I just recieved this from Omar Hayder...

o
_o_,_\ ,;: .'_o_\ ,;: (__;: _o_,_,_,_;
( .. / (_) / ( .

/ _ \
_o_\_,_;_(_ ,o _\;__,_,_,_; :
( .. (

Today the government closed down two other Muslim charities, Global Relief
Fouindation and Benevolence International Foundation.

More info to follow...

_.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'``'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._
Omar Haydar - omh@ais.org - http://www.ais.org/~omh
Secretary/Treasurer - The Dow Jones Islamic Index Fund
(630)789-0453x102 (work) (877)417-6161 (toll-free)
_.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._.,-*~'``'~*-,._.,-*~'`^`'~*-,._

Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
Saleema

12/14/01 at 23:19:25

[slm]

The noose is tightening just like Kashif said it would be. Wait for more things to come...

[wlm]

Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
ahmer

12/15/01 at 20:49:23

we are all outraged down in nj, :-(
my 11 year old nephew cried at the thought of having all that orphan money seized!!:(

but these ayahs from Surah Ale-Imran are so evident subhanAllah and also provide the solution! �

[color=red]
118. O ye who believe! Take not into your intimacy those outside your ranks: They will not fail to corrupt you. They only desire your ruin: Rank hatred has already appeared from their mouths: What their hearts conceal is far worse. We have made plain to you the Signs, if ye have wisdom.

119. Ah! ye are those who love them, but they love you not,- though ye believe in the whole of the Book. When they meet you, they say, "We believe": But when they are alone, they bite off the very tips of their fingers at you in their rage. Say: "Perish in you rage; Allah knoweth well all the secrets of the heart."

120. If aught that is good befalls you, it grieves them; but if some misfortune overtakes you, they rejoice at it. But if ye are constant and do right, not the least harm will their cunning do to you; for Allah Compasseth round about all that they do.
[/color]

keep in mind this beautiful thought in these times

[color=blue]
Syed Maudoodi rahimahullah said,
"Don't despair, Be like the river, when any obstacle comes in its course, the river does not stop rather changes it direction and continues flowing"
[/color]

Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
BroHanif

12/16/01 at 06:25:27

Well forget these people. if the muslims had enough sense they would use a different method to send the money.

Muslims need to think forward...

Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
NewJehad

12/17/01 at 07:19:09

"American Muslims support President Bush's effort to cut off funding for
terrorism and we call for a peaceful resolution to the Middle East
conflict. "
It looks to me like they asked for it.
Have we forgotten America has a different definition to the word terrorism?
As far as America is concerned the Starving kids are terrorist. If they are allowed to feed they are allowed to grow older and fight America.
The founding forefathers of America used this method to stop the native populations from fighting, so why can't Israel use the same method to stop its native populations from fighting?
If Muslims support the kaffar against their brothers think that it is in their benefit, all that it results in is harm.
Re: Holy Land Foundation assets seized!
se7en

12/17/01 at 14:56:31

as salaamu alaykum,

[quote]It looks to me like they asked for it. [/quote]

MashaAllah, what a comment to make. Let me be really honest here and say that people who are quick to label "uncle tom Muslim" very easily get my back up and my temper simmering :) Because as far as I've seen, wAllahu a'lam, those usually called "uncle tom Muslims" are the only ones that are actually getting anything done effectively in the United States. Other people talk big about 'the man' and 'no compromise', but are sitting on the sidelines doing *jack*.

How easy do you think it is for a Muslim organization in the US to give money to those in Palestine, given that United States policy is the root cause of their poverty? Or Iraq? The only reason such charities were not shut down in the past was because the US could find no excuse to legitimize it.

I suggest you read that joint statement again. It doesn't sound very apologetic to me.

[color=black]
These goals will not be achieved by taking food out of the mouths
of Palestinian orphans or by succumbing to politically-motivated smear
campaigns by those who would perpetuate Israel's brutal occupation.

No relief group anywhere in the world should be asked to question hungry orphans about their parent's religious beliefs, political affiliations or legal status. Those questions are not asked of recipients of public assistance whose parents are imprisoned or executed in the United States, and they should not be a litmus test for relief in Palestine.

Charity is a duty for people of all faiths. In fact, it is one of the five 'pillars' of Islam. Islamic charities in this country help American Muslims fulfill their religious obligation to help orphans and the needy. The frozen assets therefore belonged not to HLF, but to the entire Muslim community. This action is particularly disturbing, coming as it does during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, a time when Muslims make many of their annual charitable donations.

We ask that President Bush reconsider what we believe is an unjust and counterproductive move that can only damage America's credibility with Muslims in this country and around the world and could create the
impression that there has been a shift from a war on terrorism to an attack on Islam.
[/color]

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