Islamic charities accused of supporting terror

[ze_dscherman]

A group of Saudi-backed Islamic charities operating in the US gave material support to terrorists linked with al-Qaeda and Hamas, the US government has alleged for the first time.

The allegations concerning the Muslim World League and an affiliate, the International Islamic Relief Organisation, are likely to reignite concerns about Saudi Arabia's possible role in funding terrorist organisations. The two charities are at the centre of the largest-ever US investigation of terrorist financing.

According to an affidavit made public this week, the charities gave money to BMI, a New Jersey-based company suspected of transferring funds to three individuals designated terrorists by the US government.

Concerns over Saudi Arabia's role in terrorist funding surfaced last month in a congressional report into the September 11 2001 terrorist attacks. That report included a classified section thought to describe the role of the Saudi government in financing terrorists.

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