British charity investigated over alleged links to Hamas

Charity watchdog investigates aid charity over alleged Hamas links

The Al-Khair foundation says it is "co-operating fully" with the Charity Commission's inquiry.

British charity investigated over alleged links to Hamas

The probe into the Al-Khair Foundation follows the arrest of a Turkish national with ties to the charity

Probe launched into British Muslim charity over alleged links to Hamas

The Charity Commission has opened a statutory inquiry into a British Muslim charity over alleged links to Hamas. The Al-Khair Foundation operates in the UK and around the world, and was set up to advance religion, promote education, support social welfare, build religious harmony and offer relief to victims of disasters, the commission says. It has been quoted in a British Government press release on a new scheme combatting hate against Muslims. The foundation has also claimed more than £9million from HMRC in Gift Aid, the tax relief scheme which allows charities to claim back tax on eligible donations. In a statement last night, the Charity Commission said it had received a complaint in July claiming the foundation and its partners had links to Hamas. After initially launching a probe to investigate the claims, the commission has now "escalated its engagement to a statutory inquiry". TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The inquiry centres around Mohammad Yousef Hasna, who works for a Gaza aid group the Al-Khair Foundation works with. Mr Hasna, 45, who also goes by "Orhan Korkmaz" and "Abu al-Baraa", was arrested in the UK on July 31 on suspicion of terrorism offences. The Metropolitan Police's counter terrorism unit has also launched an investigation into allegations of potential terrorism funding. It carried out raids on two addresses in Croydon on July 31, the same day Mr Hasna was arrested by the National Crime Agency. He is currently in custody in the UK awaiting an extradition hearing later this month, according to The Telegraph. In the US, he has also been charged with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas. US prosecutors have made a string of allegations against Mr Hasna and the foundation itself, including labelling it a "Sham Charity", which it denies. Further American charges lodged against Mr Hasna include conspiring to finance terrorism and financing terrorism. Those, and the earlier charge, all carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in p

Investigation launched into international aid charity over alleged links with Hamas