Muslim Charity Seeks Release of Frozen Assets - November 16, 2004 Vol.5, No.23

November 16, 2004 Vol.5, No.23:

Published: 11/15/2004

Printable Version
Email to a Friend

Muslim Charity Seeks Release of Frozen Assets

Last month, the Department of Treasury froze the assets of the Islamic American Relief Agency (IARA-USA) after a raid on its office in Columbia, MO, and the home of its executive director. Last week, Shereef Akeel, a lawyer for the Muslim charity, applied for a license from the U.S. Treasury Department to free its frozen assets for the purpose of paying rent and utility bills.

The department had accused IARA of having raised more than $5 million for terrorist causes. It did not automatically reject IARA's request, stating, "The Treasury thoroughly reviews all licensing requests to ensure that if the funds are unfrozen, they are used for legitimate purposes and serve the interests of the charity."

IARA-USA, with a nearly 20-year history of providing relief in famine- and disaster-stricken areas of Africa, Asia and Bosnia, denied the allegations. IARA in Khartoum, Sudan, issued a similar statement and denied ties to the Columbia group. Last year, the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois found the group met 22 of its 23 standards for charitable solicitations.

The search warrants remain sealed, and the Treasury Department has so far refused to explain why it froze IARA's assets in the first place. (See recent Watcher article.)