Human Concern International

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Human Concern International (HCI) is a Canadian, federally registered, NGO charitable organization that has frequently been accused of having links to terrorism.[1][2]

From the HCI website:

"HCI is a non-profit organisation dedicated to help alleviate human suffering through sustainable development projects and emergency relief assistance programs that foster self-reliance and preserves human dignity"

Their focus was largely on Afghan orphans, building schools as well as "Hope Village", a small community comprised almost entirely of orphan children.[3]

Contents

[edit] Alleged ties to terrorism

HCI reportedly began in 1979 to support the mujahideen in Afghanistan.[4] Dedicated to feeding and schooling orphans, the charity was put under closer scrutiny after Osama bin Laden told a 1995 interviewer that "The bin-Laden Establishment's aid covers 13 countries...this aid comes in particular from the Human Concern International Society"[5]

Ahmed Said Khadr headed HCI's Pakistan office until his arrest in 1995 for that bombing of the Egyptian Embassy in Pakistan that was allegedly carried out with HCI funds.[2] Under his leadership, the Hope Village Orphanage was created in Akora Khattak.[6]

HCI denies its own involvement and describes Khadr as a volunteer from 1988 to 1995, working in Pakistan and Afghanistan on relief and development projects. [7]

The group lost its status in Canada in 1997, but as of 2000 was still only "under investigation" in the United States.[8]

In 2003, Richard A. Clarke testified before the U.S. Congress that HCI "reportedly received at least $250,000 in funding from the Canadian government."[2] The Canadian government ended its financial support to HCI in 1997 for suspicion of terrorist involvement.[9]

HCI was one of ten Islamic charities noted by Spanish police in 2002 for allegedly financing Algerian Muslim rebels. [10]

[edit] Apology from the National Post

The National Post apologized, on April 26, 2004, for a March 6, 2004 editorial.[7] The apology said, in part:

"The National Post has no reason to believe that there is evidence of any misuse of HCI funds to support terrorism. HCI itself has never been accused of terrorism or of supporting terrorism. The Post has no reason to believe that any of its other volunteers or staff have been accused of terrorism or of supporting terrorism.
"Incorrect information appeared in an editorial in the National Post of March 6. The National Post apologizes to HCI, its board of directors, volunteers and donors for any harm or embarrassment its errors may have caused."


[edit] References

  1. ^ Human Concern International Website
  2. ^ a b c Statement of Richard A. Clarke, United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, October 22, 2003
  3. ^ Amnesty International, Abdullah Almaliki: A Brief Biography
  4. ^ J. Millard Burr and Robert O. Collins. Alms for Jihad: Charity and Terrorism in the Islamic World. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521857309. 
  5. ^ Burnett, et al. v. al Baraka Investment and Development Corp., et al, Jan. 18, 2005.
  6. ^ Human Concern International, Rehabilitating and Reconstructing a Torn Land, Afghanistan
  7. ^ a b National Post Apologizes to Human Concern International, South Asia Partnership Canada, April 26, 2004
  8. ^ Miller, Judith, New York Times, "Some charities suspected of terrorist role", February 19, 2000
  9. ^ Some Charities Suspected of Terrorist Role, Judith Miller, February 19, 2000
  10. ^ Spain charity terror link alleged, CNN, December 8, 2002

[edit] External links