Interpal vindicated for third time-Muslim Charity cleared from ties to terrorism

Interpal vindicated for third time

By Hamed Chapman

Britain’s top Muslim charity has been cleared for the third time by the Charity Commission of any alleged links with so-called terrorist organisations.
“Interpal has been vindicated,” said the Charity’s Chairman, Ibrahim Hewitt, following the publication of the Commission’s 52-page report on February 27 over claims made by BBC’s Panorama over two-and-a-half year ago that Interpal funded partner organisation that promoted terrorist ideology.
“This is the third Charity Commission inquiry into Interpal in 13 years. In each case allegations and accusations made against the charity have been unproven,” Hewitt said. Previous inquiries in 1996 and 2003 also found insufficient evidence to support allegations that have been blamed on the Zionist lobby.
“The inquiry found that given the seriousness of the allegations being made, the material did not reach the standard of proof required under UK civil law,” the Commission said in its latest report. It concluded there was “not enough evidence to support the allegations.”
Hewitt criticised as “totally irresponsible” the BBC Panorama program that triggered the latest year inquiry. “Given the obvious collaboration between the Israelis and Panorama, it is hard not to conclude that we are the target of an ongoing and concerted political campaign designed to bring a halt to our humanitarian work in the region,” he said.
Interpal suggested that the smear campaign grew after the US Government, at the request of the Israeli Government, declared Interpal to be a “special designated global terrorist entity” in August 2003, for allegedly supporting Hamas.
Prior being cleared, Lloyds TSB proceeded in November last year to go as far as to stop clearing cheques for the charity that was seen as an attempt to force it to cease its operations entirely. But the investigation found that Interpal kept clear financial audit trails in its delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians and in its dealings with its partner organisations.
The Commission acknowledged that charities providing humanitarian aid in high-risk situations make a “vital contribution to the communities affected and support people in desperate need.” It cleared Managing Trustee, Essam Mustafa, of any links with terrorism, that were alleged in the Panorama report, but ordered him to resign as the General Secretary of the Union for Good group of organisations working in the occupied territories.
Interpal was also asked to end its membership of the Union, saying that its reputation could be damaged because the Union’s President supported violent Palestinian resistance. “Even in these difficult areas, trustees must discharge their duty of care to ensure the charity’s work is protected from abuse, and must avoid activities that might put charities’ assets or reputations at risk,” said the Commission’s Chief Executive, Andrew Hind.
The BBC program, entitled Faith, Hate and Charity, claimed that many Islamic charities linked with Interpal are an integral part of Hamas, and are crucial to its support amongst the Palestinian people. It further alleged that the Charity’s funds are sent to local partners which promote what it called a ‘Jihadi ethos.’ Material from the Israeli Defence Force was used to claim key figures in the management of certain local partners were members of Hamas.

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