The Saudi government has ordered the closure of a large charity that Washington accuses of helping finance terrorist activities, a Saudi official said Tuesday. The Riyadh-based Al-Haramain foundation has until Oct. 15 to dissolve all its operations, the official said on condition of anonymity. Officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and from Al-Haramain could not be reached.
| They were busy trying on false moustaches... |
Adel al-Jubeir, foreign policy adviser to Crown Prince Abdullah, announced in Washington in June that in an effort to prevent charitable donations from bankrolling terrorism, the Saudi government was creating a commission to filter contributions raised inside the kingdom to support causes abroad. The plan included dissolving Al-Haramain and other Saudi charities and folding their financial assets into the new national commission.
| So the next time we're attacked we can come directly to the Soddy government. I'm surprised they'd leave themselves open like that. A case of overconfidence? |
The U.S. government, as part of its anti-terrorism strategy after the Sept. 11 attacks, has sought to cut off the sources of terrorists' financing. Al-Haramain came under scrutiny after the attacks on suspicion of funding al-Qaida terror activities. Last month, the Bush administration designated Al-Haramain as a group suspected of supporting terrorism through its Springfield, Mo. mosque and its main location in Ashland, Ore., saying the charity "shows direct links between the U.S. branch and Osama bin Laden." Assets of the two properties have been frozen since February. The charity's branches in 10 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia, have been shut down for suspected ties to al-Qaida and other terror groups. Al-Haramain has repeatedly denied that its donations fund terror.
Last year, Saudi Arabia banned all private relief and charitable groups from sending money overseas until regulations were in place to ensure the money does not go to terrorist groups. Al-Haramain's previous activities included sending relief to Muslims in war-torn countries, including the Palestinians, Afghans and Bosnians. |