Saudi-Based Terrorist Charity Remains UN-Recognized NGO

FOX News ^ | November 14, 2007

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SHAWN: The International Islamic Relief Organization is a Saudi-based charity, a United Nations NGO, or non-governmental organization that works in the U.N. system.

In Jakarta, Indonesia, FOX News found, the IIRO branch opened for business, but there's a catch. Both the United Nations Al-Queda Sanctions Committee and U.S. Treasury Department have placed the IIRO Indonesian and Philippine branches on the Terrorism Sanctions list.

The Jakarta branch allegedly financed Al-Queda training facilities and supported the group responsible for the deadly Bali bombings.

STEVE EMERSON, TERRORISM ANALYST: The IIRO has American blood on it's hands. There is no doubt that the IIRO was directly connected to carrying out acts of terrorism on behalf of al-queda. We're not only surprised, we're outraged over it.

SHAWN: Tennessee Republican Congressman Zach Wamp is demanding an investigation of U.N. NGOs. He sent a letter signed by 28 of his congressional colleagues to U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Zalmey Khalizad.

REP. ZACH WAMP, (R) TENNESSEE: We now see through these NGO's money being funneled, some of it our tax dollars, through the United Nations. It ends up in terrorists' hands. And then these people just deny it.

SHAWN: The head of the U.N. NGO Panel says they are not looking into the group's membership. The Indonesian Ambassador who is president of the Security Council this month, said he didn't know anything about the IIRO either, but he defended his country's anti-terrorism record.

...SHAWN: At the IIRO office in Jakarta, the director denied the group supports terrorism, and said the U.N. has it wrong.

...SHAWN: The spokesman to the U.S. mission to the U.N., Richard Grenell, says they are investigating whether or not the IIRO headquarters in Saudi Arabia controls the branch offices in Indonesia and the Philippines.