Focus on FIOE funding

The Federation of Islamic Organizations in Europe (FIOE), a supposedly moderate alliance that calls itself “the largest Islamic organization on the European level,” recently held a conference in Istanbul.  The location of the meeting is significant because it is consistent with a pattern of Turkish-hosted meetings of Muslim Brotherhood affiliates.

Now would be a good time to take a look at FIOE’s financing.  The best source available on the subject is a NEFA Foundation report from October 2008.  NEFA found that “funding for the FIOE is derived largely from Gulf sources, including some of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates. The FIOE has strong ties to Hamas and Hamas fund-raising organizations, and some FIOE member organizations show evidence of links with Al-Qaida.”

NEFA’s look at the money trail follows (with internal citations omitted).  What’s peculiar about the Gulf funding sources is that so many of the donors wish to remain anonymous.  If, as FIOE claims, they are simply an organization existing to highlight the positive elements of Islam in European life, then why conceal the donors’ identities?

Although, FIOE officials have stated in the past that that the organization filed with the U.K. tax authorities, little public information is available about FIOE finances. In 2005, the FIOE said it had an annual budget of GBP 900,000, or about $1.5 million, with roughly GBP 400,000 coming from member organizations and the rest from donations; much of this funding comes from anonymous donors in the Gulf. These funds were said to come chiefly from the UAE and, although the donors wished to remain anonymous, they did include the Al Kaqf family and the Al-Maktoum family, the ruling family of Dubai. According to confidential sources, FIOE leaders said that the Muslim World League (MWL) does not provide funds directly, but “business people” donate through the MWL because it is “clear and official.” This also provides the donors with anonymity in the way that annual reports are provided.

The March 2007 FIOE newsletter reported that a FIOE delegation headed by FIOE President Chakib Benmakhlout visited Saudi Arabia from February 16 through March 1 to “strengthen bonds and introduce plans and projects.” The latest FIOE newsletter reported that Makhlouf headed a delegation to Kuwait on a seven-day trip where he met with the Deputy Minister of Endowment (waqf) and a number of officials at the ministry The two sides were said to have discussed “the possibility of supporting the activities of Islamic organizations and foundations in Europe and preaching for Islam.” The same newsletter also reported that the FIOE East Europe Bureau held a charitable forum in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia recently that was attended by “people supporting charitable works in East Europe.”

Funding for FIOE member organizations and central institutions also comes from Gulf sources. Examples include:

• The Swedish FIOE member cooperated with the Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahayan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, funded by the former President of the UAE (now deceased), in establishing the Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre in Stockholm, described as the biggest Islamic center in all of the Scandinavian countries and which cost USD $3.5 million to build.

• The Ukrainian FIOE member recently opened a rehabilitation centre and vocational training center financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) based in Saudi Arabia.

• The Islamic Cultural Center of Ireland, headed by former FIOE officer Nooh Al-Kaddo, established in 1996 by and built with a donation by the Maktoum family, the ruling family of Dubai, one of the Emirates that form the United Arab Emirates It houses the headquarters of the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR), which is led by Sheikh Youssef Qaradawi.135 Dr. Al-Kaddo is also a trustee of the Maktoum Foundation in the Netherlands, founded and named after Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is the Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

• As noted above, Europe Trust officials have said that funds for real estate purchased by the Trust on behalf of a German Islamic association also came from the Maktoum Foundation, as well as the Awaqf Ministry in Kuwait and the Bayt al-Zakat in Dubai, possibly related to the Bait Al-Zakat in Kuwait. In addition, real estate was donated to the trust by a company with Bahraini and Saudi owners.

• Also, as noted above, the European Institute for Human Sciences was funded by the Saudi Muslim World League and the Islamic Development Bank.