U.S. to Freeze Saudi Charity's Assets

[MtnGoat]

Thursday August 3, 2:10 pm ET
By Jeannine Aversa, AP Economics Writer
Treasury Dept. to Freeze Assets of Saudi Charity Accused of Helping Fund al-Qaida Terrorism


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Bush administration took steps Thursday to financially incapacitate branches of a Saudi-based Islamic charity and one of its high-ranking officials for allegedly helping al-Qaida bankroll terrorist acts.


The Treasury Department's action is directed at the Philippine and Indonesian offices of the International Islamic Relief Organization. The charity has operations in more than 20 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the department said.

The action also covers Abd Al Hamid Sulaiman Al-Mujil, who is the executive director of the charity's Eastern Province branch in Saudi Arabia.

The department's action means that any assets found in the United States belonging to Al-Mujil or to the Philippine and Indonesian branches of the charity will be frozen. Americans also are forbidden from sending money or otherwise doing business with them.

The department said that Al-Mujil has been called the "million dollar man" for his financial support of Islamic militant groups. He allegedly provided money to the al-Qaida terror network and is considered a major fundraiser for two al-Qaida-affiliated terrorist groups in Southeast Asia, Abu Sayyaf Group and Jemaah Islamiyah, the department said.

The department also alleged that, among other things, the charity's offices in the Philippines raised money for the Abu Sayyaf terror group. The charity's office in Indonesia has funneled money to foundations affiliated with the Jemaah Islamiyah terror group and has helped to finance training facilities for use by al-Qaida associates, the department alleged.

"It is particularly shameful when groups that hold themselves out as charitable or religious organizations defraud their donors or divert funds in support of violent terrorist groups," said Stuart Levey, the department's undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence.

"Al-Mujil has a long record of supporting Islamic militant groups and he has maintained a cell of regular financial donors in the Middle East who support extremist causes," Levey said.

Treasury: http://www.treasury.gov/