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US raids charity organization that supports Lebanon's Hezbollah
Dearborn, MI - A Dearborn-based charitable organization suspected of providing financial support to Hezbollah — a political and paramilitary organization based in Lebanon — was shut down Tuesday following a series of raids executed by members of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force. Following Tuesday's searches, the Goodwill Charitable Organization (GCO) — located on Warren Avenue near Schaefer Road in Dearborn — has been designated as a Hezbollah-affiliated organization and shut down, according to Special Agent Dawn Clenney of the FBI's Detroit bureau. "The organization was given this designation by the U.S. Department of the Treasury based on an investigation conducted by the Detroit FBI," Clenney said. "There were no arrests made and no one has been formally charged at this time."

According to a press release issued by the U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday, the GCO is a fundraising office established by the Martyrs Foundation — a "parastatal organization that channeled financial support from Iran to several terrorist organizations in the Levant — a region in the Middle East — including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad."

The GCO has provided financial support to Hezbollah directly and through the Martyrs organization, the release said. Hezbollah's leaders in Lebanon have allegedly instructed Hezbollah members in the United States to send their contributions to the GCO and to contact the GCO for the purpose of contributing to the Martyrs Foundation. Since its founding, the GCO has sent a significant amount of money to the Martyrs Foundation in Lebanon, the department said. "We will not allow organizations that support terrorism to raise money in the United States or to evade our measures and continue to operate simply by changing their names," said Stuart Levey, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

The CGO was one of two Muslim charities in Dearborn searched Tuesday by members of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, which has led some members of the Arab American community to express concern that the organizations were targeted because of their religious affiliation. "I don't want to believe that, but I can't deny that many of the charities that have been raided so far are Muslim charities," said Imad Hamad, regional director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

In September 2006, the FBI raided the Southfield offices of Life for Relief and Development, a large and highly respected Muslim charity under investigation in connection with its activities in Iraq. The raid happened on the eve of Ramadan, a holy month in which Muslims are required to give to worthy causes. The organization was not shut down and no charges have been filed, but the investigation continues. "I think it's important to remind everyone that giving to charity is not only a Muslim value, it is an American value," Hamad said. "As Arab Americans, we feel we are an integral part of this nation and its future — but we also cannot deny that prejudice and discrimination exist."

A second Muslim charity searched on Tuesday — the Al-Mabarrat Charitable Organization — remains in operation and is accepting donations. Founded in 1991, the Al-Mabarrat Charitable Foundation — located on Schaefer just north of Warren Avenue — is a well-known and highly regarded charity, Hamad said, especially among Shia Muslims. "Al-Mabarrat has been around for many years, which has led us to ask why it was searched now, when we are again approaching the holy month of Ramadan," he said.

However, Hamad did commend FBI officials and others at the local, state and national level for their willingness to work together to help alleviate concerns from members of the community immediately following the searches. "I can't count the number of meetings we've had on this topic," he said. "We have engaged in numerous discussions, and have made it clear this action should not cast a shadow on all charities. "Helping those in need is a part of the American way of life — it's not limited to a single religion. We urge all members of the public not to surrender to their fears."
Posted by: Fred 2007-07-30
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=194831