3 Muslim charities lose tax-exempt status

AP | 11/14/03

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department announced Friday that it has revoked the tax-exempt status of three Muslim charities that the U.S. government has accused of diverting contributions to help bankroll terrorist activities.

Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service said the action affects Benevolence International Foundation of Palos Hills, Ill., Global Relief Foundation of Bridgeview, Ill., and Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development of Richardson, Texas.

The three charities have been designated previously by the government as suspected terrorist financiers under an executive order of President Bush, the department said.

Once the government made that designation, it meant that their financial assets were frozen and people were forbidden from making donations to them, an effort to shut the groups down.

The three charities' tax-exempt status was suspended Nov. 11, the same day a new law took effect that included a provision giving the department the power to take such action. The provision allows the government to suspend the tax-exempt status of organizations designated as having supported terrorism.

When an organization loses its tax-exempt status, people cannot deduct from their federal income taxes any contributions made to the group and the organization must pay federal income tax.

"We will continue to use all available means to fight the financial war on terrorism," said Treasury Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy Pam Olson. "Today's announcement is another example of that effort."

[kattracks]

What about the people who run this "charity". Are they in jail?

[nuffsenuff]

I was thinking the exact same thing.

How about taking them to trial and shutting the friggin place down?

This PC nonsense is getting out of hand.

[Chummy]

Here's one on a former leader of Global Relief:

http://www.bice.immigration.gov/graphics/news/newsrel/articles/removal071503.htm

And a quick search shows the State Department had it identified on the Terror List over a year ago.

[Chummy]

Here's a press release from Global Relief, dated December 11, 2001 (GAG Alert in effect)

Copyright 2001 Business Wire, Inc.
Business Wire
December 11, 2001, Tuesday

HEADLINE: Global Relief Foundation Urges Americans to Never Forget September 11

DATELINE: BRIDGEVIEW, Ill., Dec. 11, 2001


Heeding President Bush's call to never forget the tragic events of September 11, the Global Relief Foundation (GRF) urges Americans to remember the tragedy as we unite against terrorism and disaster worldwide.

The three-month anniversary of the September 11 attacks brings back vivid memories of that international tragedy. While innocent people from all over the world became victims of faceless terrorism, America faced a national nightmare. We suffered the loss of thousands of civilians at the hands of those who attempt to fill our world with terror. For three months, we have mourned for those who lost their lives, wept with their families, lamented with the injured and grieved for those who have been victimized as a result of this tragedy. We mourn a national tragedy that has victimized all of us. To heal this deep wound, we must first never forget its results. We must never forget the agony of innocent victims, the heroism of fallen emergency personnel and law enforcement officers, the suffering of survivors, the orphaned children and the broken families. We must remember that these victims from all over the world, of all races and religions, were victims of terrorism. On December 11, we must remember each day of the three months that have passed, to hold fast our opposition to terrorism. Let us heed President Bush's call to join our Congress and our fellow citizens, and hold events to commemorate the tragedy rather than to forget it. To forget the tragedy would be acquiescing to terror, and to the misery it brings. We will join hands and fight against terror wherever it strikes.

We at GRF have spread the knowledge of worldwide human suffering for the past 10 years and have become known for our actions against injustice. In our efforts to provide aid to innocent victims worldwide, we are evermore fervent in our moral obligation to assist those in need.

For further information, please see GRF's public statement issued on Sept. 12, 2001 or visit our Web site at http://www.grf.org. CONTACT: Global Relief Foundation, Bridgeview
Media Coordinator, 708/233-1473 URL: http://www.businesswire.com

[Mark17]

3 Muslim charities lose tax-exempt status

Only 3? Isn't that number just a tad small?

[mrustow]

Good news: the web site has been shut down.

[mrustow]

It looks like GRF has been shut down; hit the link at #4.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Only 3? Isn't that number just a tad small?

There are three less in operation today than yesterday...we're moving in the right direction one step at a time.

Good news, IMO.

[Mark17]

Good news, IMO.

Yes it is, but I am just impatient to see all of them out of business.

[armymarinemom]

If only we could read this about moveon.org too. They have no business being listed as a non-political, non-profit group.

[Calpernia]

Ping

[Calpernia]

Ping

[4.1O dana super trac pak]

Where are the crybaby muslim spokesman?

[Sabertooth]

What about the people who run this "charity". Are they in jail?

What about their friends and allies?

What about Khaled Saffuri, who has acknowledged gifvng more than $20,000 to the Holy Land Foundation?

Saffuri, co-founder with Grover Norquist of the Islamic Institute, stands just to the left behind President Bush at a Muslim gathering following the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001.

Sneak Preview
... also present at the meeting, heatedly dismissed critics of his efforts on behalf
of Saffuri and other Muslim ... Money raised by the Holy Land Foundation is used ...
www.insightmag.com/main.cfm/include/ detail/storyid/252905.html - 46k - Cached - Similar pages

TownHall.com: Conservative Columnists: Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.
... And Saffuri has personally denounced the President's listing of the Holy
Land Foundation as a charity that supported terrorist organizations. ...
www.townhall.com/columnists/frankjgaffneyjr/ printfg20030218.shtml - 11k - Cached - Similar pages

Yahoo! Groups : ctrl Messages : Message 17237 of 23745
... also present at the meeting, heatedly=20 dismissed critics of his efforts on behalf
of Saffuri and other ... Money raised by the Holy Land Foundation is used by ...
groups.yahoo.com/group/ctrl/message/17237?source=1 - 31k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from yahoo.com ]

Yahoo! Groups : Support_Israel Messages : Message 8322 of 9959
... terrorist-financing investigations.'' Saffuri even acknowledges sponsoring the
families of suicide terrorists through the Holy Land Foundation, a ''charity ...
groups.yahoo.com/group/Support_Israel/message/8322 - 17k - Cached - Similar pages

Who is with President Bush? - Frank J. Gaffney Jr. - Benador ...
... And Mr. Saffuri has personally denounced the president's listing of the Holy
Land Foundation as a charity that supported terrorist organizations. ...
www.benadorassociates.com/article/275 - 14k - Cached - Similar pages

Islamic Institute Archives
... Friday Brief 12/7/2001- Holy Land Foundation Assets Frozen by Government
- Members of Congress to Ridge: Form Muslim American Advisory Board -. ...
www.islamicinstitute.org/archives.htm - 27k - Cached - Similar pages

Removing Norquist's burkha (Grover Norquist Alert)
... Frank Gaffney Jr. - Townhall.com. So, Saffuri denounces Hamas, yet defends
the Holy Land Foundation, which supports Hamas. More on the HLF‰Û? ...
www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/849698/posts - 77k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages

The Political Economy of Middle East Terrorism
... West Bank.(12) For example, Thabet Mardawi and Ali Saffuri, two captured ... December
4, 2001, the Bush administration exposed the Holy Land Foundation for Relief ...
www.ict.org.il/articles/articledet.cfm?articleid=459 - 60k - Nov 13, 2003 - Cached - Similar pages

Islam-Online Web Site - Your Source To The World Of Islam! ...
... 133, "The Holy Land Foundation & US Government", Shukri Abu Baker, 13/Dec/2001. ... 65,
"Reflections on the Results of Election 2000", Khalid Saffuri, 8/Nov/2000. ...
islamonline.org/livedialogue/english/oldresult.asp - 101k - Cached - Similar pages

Kesher Talk
... The Holy Land Foundation (HLF) is one of the primary US-based charities supporting ... In
1996, the then Deputy Director of AMC, Khaleed Saffuri, stated, ‰ÛÏMany ...
www.hfienberg.com/kesher/ 2002_06_23_kesher_archive.html - 101k - Cached - Similar pages
Google search: saffuri "holy land foundation"

[Paleo Conservative]

Only three?

[tubavil]

Reading al-jazeera, studying hamas internet bomb making manuals, memorizing cair talking points, volunteering for kucinich, surveiling Jewish daycares, donating for issa'a next run, etc.

[Pelham]

Doesn't Grover have a reservation at Gitmo?

[Victoria Delsoul]

The three charities have been designated previously by the government as suspected terrorist financiers under an executive order of President Bush, the department said.

I have the feeling that there are more than 3 Muslim charities in the US that bankroll terrorists. However, it's a start. I just hope the government keeps this up.

[Cindy]

http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/js1004.htm

FROM THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
To view or print the PDF content on this page, download the free Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®.
November 14, 2003
JS-1004
TREASURY AND IRS SUSPEND TAX EXEMPT STATUS OF
THREE ORGANIZATIONS IDENTIFIED WITH TERRORISM


Today the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service announced the suspension of the tax exempt status of three organizations: Benevolence International Foundation, Inc., Global Relief Foundation, Inc., and Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. The tax exempt status of these organizations is being suspended because they have been designated as supporting or engaging in terrorist activity or supporting terrorism. Contributions made to an organization during the period that the organization’s tax-exempt status is suspended are not deductible for federal tax purposes.

“We will continue to use all available means to fight the financial war on terrorism,” stated Treasury Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy Pam Olson. “Today’s announcement is another example of that effort.  Organizations found by the United States government to support terrorism should not be exempt from federal income tax and contributions to those organizations should not be deductible for federal tax purposes.”

"The IRS supports the war on terrorism," said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. "The agency's efforts include scrutinizing tax-exempt organizations that may support terrorism.  In addition, our criminal investigators follow the flow of terrorist-related financing to countries around the world, including the Middle East. In Iraq, our special agents help trace and recover assets from Saddam Hussein's regime."

Prior to the effective date of suspension of exemption under section 501(p), these three organizations were designated under Executive Order 13224, entitled "Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism."  Contributions made to these organizations in violation of the Executive Order prior to this suspension are not tax deductible under the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Related Documents:

* The text of Announcement 2003-74

 

[JustPiper]

Bump-Ping for your as usual most excellent work Saber!