Terrorists and other criminal groups occasionally use charities in many ways to further their own ends. The Charity Commission warns that charities which operate in communities and areas where a particular proscribed organisation is dominant may need to be particularly careful.
Methods of using charities by terrorists may include –
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The Charity Commission’s investigation into Muslim Aid’s alleged links with Hamas has concluded that the allegations are not substantiated.
Appeal to Tribunal succeeds
The charity tribunal has quashed a Charity Commission order for the first time, reports Jonathan Burchfield.
Lloyds TSB has blamed US government economic sanction laws for its decision to block Interpal’s bank account last year.
Dozens of civil society organisations are joining together to create a new coalition to fight for the preservation of civil liberties and human rights that are gradually being eroded by government policies.
Lloyds TSB has reportedly agreed to postpone the closure of Interpal's bank account from 8 December until 30 January 2009 after representations from the charity's bank, the Islamic Bank of Britain (IBB).
Interpal, the controversial UK-based Palestinian charity, is facing closure after Lloyds TSB instructed the Islamic Bank of Britain to shut its bank account.
Colleagues of British aid worker Gayle Williams who was shot dead in Kabul earlier this week by Taliban insurgents say they are praying for her killers.
The Charity Commission has published the final version of its counter-terrorism strategy, following an informal consultation period. The strategy does not differ significantly from the draft which was released before Christmas, but does provide more information in some areas.
Seeking terror safeguards
Vicki Bowles suggests some safeguards to help charities at risk from terrorist abuse.
Charity Commission officials are to go on overseas site visits to charities working in areas at high risk from terrorism and will strengthen their arrangement with law enforcement agencies, as part of a new counter-terrorism strategy.
The Charity Commission should send investigators on site visits overseas to confirm that charitable funds are being properly spent instead of merely relying on checking charities' accounts, the government has suggested.
The bank accounts of Palestinian relief charity Interpal have been closed by NatWest following the pressures of an ongoing court case in the United States where the bank is being sued for supporting a group with links to terrorism.
The Government's 'heavy-handed and draconian approach' to charities and terrorism could be fuelling rather than eliminating the terrorist threat, according to a new report written by NCVO policy staff and backed by a broad coalition of voluntary sector stakeholders.
NCVO sets up an advisory group group on terrorism and the voluntary sector in an effort to protect the charity 'brand' from damaging allegations of terror links.
Act on terror
There is an increasing focus on the potential for charities to be involved in international terrorism
The Charity Commission has still to decide whether to launch another inquiry into the affairs of Interpal, following new allegations by British Broadcasting Corporation's Panorama about funds being diverted to Hamas activities.
The four national UK umbrella bodies representing the voluntary sector have met EU leaders in Brussels.
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