Anti-terrorism financing

Court Rules Government Must Demonstrate Scholar Knowingly Supported Terrorism

in
Date: 
July 20, 2009

On July 17, 2009, a federal appeals court overturned a ruling that allowed the U.S. government to deny a Swiss Muslim scholar entry into the country for contributing to a charity that was later determined to have connections to terrorism.  The ruling remands Tariq Ramadan's case back to a lower court where the government will have to demonstrate that he knowingly donated to a group sponsoring violence.

UK Charity Commission Assembling "Terrorism" Toolkit for Guiding Charities

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Date: 
July 15, 2009

As counterterrorism measures continue to evolve, the UK Charity Commission has begun collecting information for developing a toolkit for charities on how to deal with terrorism legislation and related measures in their sector.  They are requesting charities and NGOs to submit examples of situations and issues affecting them that the Commission should examine and possibly include in the toolkit.  More information is available from British Overseas NGOs for Development BOND.

Commentary: Insight into Treasury's View of Terrorist Finance from FOIA Docs

in
Date: 
July 6, 2009
Author: 
Wendell Belew (Guest Author)

By Wendell Belew, Belew Law Group, Washington, DC. Mr. Belew represents the Friends of Charity Association, an association of Islamic charities that operate globally (www.foca.net)

Selective Enforcement: Charities Targeted for Harsher Sanctions

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Date: 
June 29, 2009

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has designated nine U.S. charities as supporters of terrorism, seizing all property, blocking all funds and effectively closing all programs. In contrast, the for-profit corporations Halliburton and Chiquita Brands International have only had to pay fines for very similar alleged violations, and their operations have not been interrupted or shut down. There has been no explanation from OFAC.

Interpal Nearing Forced Closure Due to Allegations

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Date: 
December 9, 2008

Interpal, a UK based nonprofit, is facing being shut down after its bank was told to close its account by a major London clearing bank. Originally set for December 8, the deadline for closing the account has been extended to January 30, 2009.

Another Charity "Closed" by Banks

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Date: 
January 6, 2009

In the wake of criticism received by Lloyds TSB for closing the account of Interpal, a UK based charity, Barclays bank is discontinuing the account of a predominantly Islamic charity, Ummah Welfare Trust. Muslims across the region are requesting a reversal of the closing and are organizing a boycott if demands are not met.

Treasury Amends Regulations on Legal Services and Payments

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Date: 
January 6, 2009

 

Effective as of December 2008, the U.S. Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has expanded its scope of mandatory licensing affecting legal services available under the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations and payment for legal services under the Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations.

Update: Commission Says Targeted Charity Clean

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Date: 
January 13, 2008

As previously reported, Barclays bank remains determined to shut down the account of the Bradford based charity, Ummah Welfare Trust (UWT), but extended the deadline for closure by 21 days. The closure of the account will translate into a 30% loss of the charity's revenue which comes from direct debits and untraceable anonymous donors.

U.S. Terror Listing Hurts Banking Services for British NGOs

in
Date: 
June 28, 2009

The influence of the U.S. Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is widely believed to be behind the December 2008 decision of Barclays bank to discontinue the account of a predominantly Islamic UK charity, Ummah Welfare Trust (UWT).

Charity Interpal Cleared in UK, Banned in US

in
Date: 
June 28, 2009

On Feb. 27, 2009 the Palestinians Relief and Development Fund (Interpal) was cleared of supporting terrorism in the third inquiry into its activities by the United Kingdom's (UK) Charity Commission.  The charity also overcame hurdles to financing its operations created by two prominent banks that withdrew their financial services in response to the United States (U.S) listing of Interpal as a supporter of terrorism. 

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