Posted on 09/24/2003 5:35:42 PM PDT by blam
Britain rejects Bush's charges against charity
By Sean O'Neill
(Filed: 25/09/2003)
Britain yesterday rejected claims by America that a London-based charity was a front group for the terrorist group Hamas.
The Charity Commission said the US authorities were unable to substantiate claims that Interpal, which raises £4 million a year, channelled money to Hamas for terrorist and political activities.
Investigators lifted a month-long freeze on Interpal's bank accounts and allowed it to continue operating normally. Last month President George W Bush ordered the US Treasury to "block and freeze" all Interpal's assets and declared that the charity was a "specially designated global terrorist".
The US authorities alleged that Interpal, based in Kilburn, north London, was "the fund-raising co-ordinator of Hamas" and "a principal charity utilised to hide the flow of funds to Hamas".
The Charity Commission carried out an immediate investigation into Interpal's activities and froze its bank accounts. Investigators met US officials to discuss the case but the Americans produced only press cuttings to support their claim that it was a terrorist organisation.
The commission also contacted anti-terrorist, security and intelligence agencies in Britain "to facilitate a thorough investigation".
A commission report on the inquiry stated: "The US authorities were unable to provide evidence to support allegations made against Interpal within the agreed time scale. The commission concluded that in the absence of any clear evidence showing Interpal had links to Hamas's political or violent militant activities, Interpal's bank accounts should be unfrozen and the inquiry closed."
The inquiry disclosed that Interpal had received money from the Dutch-based Al Aqsa Foundation, a charity banned in Britain for its alleged Hamas links.
Interpal, which maintains it is a humanitarian charity, was investigated by the commission in 1996 over claims that its funds were misappropriated for Hamas's terrorist activities and was found to be "a well-run organisation". Ibrahim Hewitt, the chairman of Interpal's trustees, said he was delighted with the commission's decision.
He added: "However, it is disappointing that such unsubstantiated allegations can be made so flippantly."
A US Treasury spokesman declined to criticise the Charity Commission and looked forward to continued partnership with the British authorities.
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