CANADA REVOKES REGISTRATION OF 2 CHARITIES OVER HIZBUL FUNDING

Canadian tax authorities have revoked the charitable status of two organisations citing how the donations may have been directed to a group linked to the Pakistan-based terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen that is focused on Jammu and Kashmir.

While the decision taken by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) was based on an audit covering the period between 2007 and 2009, the move to cancel the charity status of the ISNA Islamic Services of Canada was taken in May this year. Another organisation, the Canadian Islamic Trust Foundation was also subjected to revocation.

A spokesperson for CRA confirmed the revocations to HT.

Among the aspects that CRA considered in terminating the Mississauga-based organisation’s status was that it issued tax receipts for funds collected at the Jami Mosque, “with the ultimate goal” of sending these to the Relief Organisation for Kashmiri Muslims or ROKM, which is based in Pakistan.

A footnote to a letter sent in June 2014 by CRA, stated, “Our research indicates that ROKM is the charitable arm of Jamaat-eIslami, a political organisation that actively contests the legitimacy of India’s governance over the state of Jammu and Kashmir, including reportedly through the activities of its armed wing, Hizbul Mujahideen.”

Given the “commonalities” in the directorship of HM, JeI and ROKM, “concerns exist that the funds collected and disbursed as part of this relief fund may have been used to support the political efforts of Jamaat-e-Islami and/or its armed wing Hizbul Mujahideen,” it said.

Zoltan Csepregi, a spokesperson for CRA, told HT: “The CRA contributes to the government's efforts to combat terrorist financing by protecting the charity registration system in Canada from abuse.”

Meanwhile, the body to which these organisations are affiliated, Islamic Society of North America – Canada, issued a rejoinder on its website. “The issue highlighted in the media that somehow the Jami Mosque sent donations to a group in Kashmir with terrorist links is not a valid representation”. The Jami Mosque’s donations were sent for the express purpose of helping the poor and needy people. This is allowed by CRA,” it said.