Australian police have accused a Muslim charity of channelling aid to Palestinian militants through an Islamic organisation banned by Australia and the US for its alleged terrorist links.According to The Sydney Morning Herald daily, officers raided the office of Muslim Aid Australia on Thursday and spent several hours there. The charity, which states its main aim is to address the "persistent and recurring problems of global poverty", was recently accused of involvement with the British-based group, Interpal, banned in Australia and a labelled terrorist organisation by the US.
Interpal is a Palestinian aid organisation that has been accused of funding the Islamist movement Hamas. It was reportedly investigated and cleared by the British Charity Commission twice in the past 11 years but has remained on a banned list in Australia.
An Australian media report published earlier this month said MAA had admitted using Interpal to help funnel charity money into Gaza during Israeli border closures earlier this year. However, MAA reportedly changed its statement when questioned by the charity watchdog, the Australian Council for International Development, stating there had been no involvement with Interpal.
Interpal is a British-based humanitarian group also known as the Palestinian Relief and Development Fund. It has been cleared of terror links by the British Charity Commission but failed three years ago to have its proscribed listing revoked in Australia.
According to its website, Muslim Aid was established in 1989 by concerned humanitarians that saw a need for professional Muslim relief organisation. It says 80 percent of the worlds' refugees, facing ongoing crises and disaster, come from Muslim backgrounds.
Gee! It's like... muslim countries are dysfunctional.