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The Kansas City Star - Feb. 11, 2006
Charity with tie to Missouri is under fire
Special status in doubt over alleged terrorism support
By MARK MORRIS
A United Nations committee has recommended stripping privileged status from a Sudanese charity that U.S. officials contend supported terrorism and is linked to a Columbia nonprofit.
In two late January meetings, the U.N.’s Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations debated and ultimately recommended the Islamic African Relief Agency’s “special consultative status” be withdrawn.
Such status allows the charity, usually called IARA, special access to U.N. facilities and permits it to attend and participate in meetings and serve as a technical expert and adviser.
IARA has held special consultative status since 1985.
Federal officials have said the Islamic American Relief Agency in Columbia is the U.S. affiliate of IARA. In October 2004, Treasury and FBI agents raided the Missouri group’s office and officially designated it as a terrorism supporter.
A lawyer for the Columbia charity has said it is entirely separate from the Sudanese charity and does not support terrorism. He said Thursday the United Nation’s action had no bearing on the Columbia group.
The terrorism designation froze the charity’s assets and made it illegal for people and institutions to send it contributions. The Columbia charity is appealing its designation in a federal court.
The U.N. committee’s action came at the urging of Alejandro D. Wolff, a senior U.S. diplomat.
In a Jan. 23 letter, Wolff repeated allegations that IARA had raised money for al-Qaida, Hamas and Osama bin Laden. Wolff also noted that the Columbia charity originally incorporated in 1985 as the “Islamic African Relief Agency, United States Affiliate.” In 1999, the charity changed its name, substituting “American” for “African.”
“The United States strongly believes that any organization involved or facilitating terrorist activity should not have access to the United Nations,” Wolff wrote. The committee’s recommendation will be considered in early May by the U.N.’s Economic and Social Council, which coordinates international development and social service work, a U.N. spokeswoman said Thursday.
Though the U.S. has moved to cut IARA’s ties to the United Nations, the charity has not yet been listed on the United Nations’ consolidated list of known al-Qaida and Taliban terrorists and supporters. Such a move would require the concurrence of all members of the Security Council, a U.S. spokesman said.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/13845179.htm
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