Related Resources • Holy Land Foundation Shut Down • Zakat • Islamic Charities • September 11 Response

Elsewhere on the Web • Global Relief Foundation • Benevolence International Foundation

Dateline:  Saturday, December 15, 2001

Federal officials have raided and shut down two more major Islamic charitable organizations, days before the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The offices of Global Relief Foundation (GRF) and Benevolence International Foundation (BIF) were raided by federal officials on Friday.  All of their financial assets and records have been blocked, pending an investigation into possible ties to terrorism.

This government action has effectively shut down all major Islamic charitable outlets in the United States.  On December 4th, government officials raided and froze the assets of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF).  These three charitable groups are the largest and most-respected Islamic relief organizations operating in the U.S., passing tens of millions of dollars to needy children and families throughout the world each year.  All three organizations are registered non-profit 501(c)(3) charities -- HLF since 1989, BIF and GRF since 1992.  Officials from all three organizations are reportedly cooperating with investigators and providing voluntary interviews, in the belief that this error will be cleared and the funds released.  All three organizations have vehemently denied any link to terrorism. 

The organizations have provided emergency and developmental assistance in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Lebanon, the Balkans, the former Soviet Union, Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, Turkey, and within the United States.  While the government has not yet issued an official statement about Friday's action, Treasury officials previously acknowledged that a 'substantial amount' of the money raised (by HLF) does go to worthy causes.

The government action comes two days before the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when most Muslims make their annual charitable contributions.  Muslims are required to pay 2.5 percent of their savings and assets in charity each year, a pillar of the faith called zakat (purification of wealth).