U.K. reviews Islamic charity for Boko Haram ties

Britain’s charity regulator is looking into whether the London-based Al Muntada Trust is the same entity that Nigerian authorities say is funding the radical Islamic terrorist group Boko Haram.  At least one member of the House of Lords believes there is evidence to justify the investigation.

But don’t get your hopes up for positive identification by the Charity Commission—the same entity that whitewashed the links between the British Islamic charity Muslim Aid and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.

From the Third Sector on Sept. 10:

Charity Commission examines terror funding allegation

The Charity Commission is trying to establish the identity of a charity linked to allegations of funding the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram.

A commission statement said it was aware of claims made in The Observer that a charity called the Al-Muntada Trust has given financial support to Boko Haram, which has links to the terrorist group Al Qaeda and is connected with attacks against churches and Christians in Nigeria.

A spokeswoman for the Charity Commission said it was trying to establish which particular charity the allegations concerned.

“The commission is aware there may be some concerns with regards to an organisation entitled ‘Al-Muntada Trust Fund’ and specifically allegations that this organisation has provided financial support to the Nigerian group, Boko Haram,” she said.

“There are a number of registered charities with a similar name to this organisation. The commission is not able to confirm at this stage whether or not this relates directly to a UK-registered charity.”

There are two organisations on the Charity Commission register called the Al-Muntada Al Islamia Trust and the Al-Muntada Al-Islami Trust. Neither could be contacted by Third Sector for comment.

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said it was aware of the allegations, but there was no criminal investigation under way.

“We are aware of the information and are in close contact with the Charity Commission, who are assessing it,” she said. “Should any allegations of criminal offences come to light we would investigate.”

Boko Haram has also been known to finance its activities through bank robbery, which they have some basis for believing  is permissible under Islamic law.

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