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Posted on Sat, May. 31, 2008

First of two parts

“Pinning the blame for terror
Special Report: A Phila. law firm wages an epic legal battle to recover billions in damages for 9/11.”

By Chris Mondics
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The Islamic Charities

Most of the Islamic charities named in the Cozen lawsuit are based in Saudi Arabia or trace their origins to the kingdom. Here are brief descriptions of six that are central to the case:

The Muslim World League was founded in 1962 in Saudi Arabia. It is closely tied to the government and is one of the world’s largest Islamic charities.

The International Islamic Relief Organization was founded by royal decree in Mecca on Jan. 29, 1979. It says its purpose is to provide relief to victims of famine, floods, and other natural disasters. It describes itself as an arm of the Muslim World League. The U.S. Treasury Department has designated two IIRO offices, in Indonesia and the Philippines, as terrorism supporters.

The Saudi High Commission for Relief of Bosnia and Herzegovina was founded by the government in 1993 to provide relief to Muslims uprooted during the Balkans war. It describes itself as an instrument of Saudi government policy. In its detainee hearings, the Pentagon considers past employment by the commission a reason to keep someone in custody at Guantanamo Bay.

The Benevolence International Foundation was founded in Saudi Arabia by Saudi financier Adel Batterjee. It moved to Chicago in early 1992. It described its mission as providing humanitarian relief projects throughout the world. The Treasury Department has designated the BIF and Batterjee as terrorism supporters.

Al-Haramain Foundation, a sprawling Islamic relief organization, long enjoyed close ties to the Saudi government. Since 9/11, it has been under pressure from U.S. authorities, which designated more than a dozen of its overseas offices, including one in the United States, as terrorism supporters. The Saudi government joined the United States in making more than half those designations.

The Rabita Trust says it was founded to assist struggling refugees in Bangladesh. It is based in Islamabad, Pakistan, and is headed by Wa’el Julaidan, a financier whom Treasury has designated a terrorism supporter. The Rabita Trust also has been designated.”