Posted on 02/19/2006 2:11:25 PM PST by new yorker 77
US authorities said they have frozen the assets of a non-governmental organisation, KindHearts, which they say is linked to Hamas, the Palestinian group it accuses of backing terrorism.
The US Treasury Department said KindHearts' accounts and other assets would be frozen while an investigation was carried out.
Stuart Levey, treasury under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said KindHearts was linked to Holy Land Foundation and the Global Relief Foundation "which attempted to mask their support for terrorism behind the facade of charitable giving."
According to US authorities, Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development is linked to Hamas while Global Relief Foundation (GRF) was a front group for Al-Qaeda. Their assets have been frozen since December, 2001.
Levey said in a statement that a former GRF official, Khaled Smaili set up KindHearts in January 2002 from his home in Toledo in the US state of Ohio.
The Treasury Department said in the statement that KindHearts officials and fundraisers have coordinated with Hamas leaders and made contributions to Hamas-affiliated organizations.
Hamas is expected to form the next Palestinian government, but it is on a US terrorist list because it refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist and has been blamed for attacks on Israeli targets.
The statement said that a Hamas leader in Lebanon who is on a US terrorist list, Usama Hamdan, "reportedly phoned a top fundraiser for KindHearts during a September 2003 KindHearts fundraiser.
"Hamdan reportedly communicated to the fundraiser his gratitude for KindHearts' support. The KindHearts fundraiser reportedly also provided advice to Hamdan, telling him not to trust the United Nations Relief and Works Agency," the US statement said.
Copyright © 2006 Agence France Presse. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AFP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of Agence France Presse.
Copyright © 2006 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.
It is precisely because of these jokers that we need to monitor overseas calls. I have serious doubts about any Muslim charity, and for sure and Pali 'charity'.
GOOD START if it is true.
I expect we will hear from the insane asylum that this is unfair and will cause hardship on folks who want to see us all killed in the most painful ways possible.
Gee, should we care?
After the videos of these clowns dancing in the streets after 9/11, my sympathy is close to nil. Sendiong any money their way is close to treasonous, Hamas or not.
But, but Global Relief, Holy Land Foundation, and Kind Hearts sound so niiiice.
Evergreen College
Osama bin Laden builds day care centers Patty Murray (D WA)
Boy, they are doing a job on the Veep:
Yes, absolutely a subscription to the NY times is also almost treasonous. They are destroying the country from within. I only buy one newspaper--The NY Sun, Support the Sun in their good works.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.