Charity with tie to Missouri is under fire

Special status in doubt over alleged terrorism support:

MARK MORRIS The Kansas City Star Sat, Feb. 11, 2006 - A United Nations committee has recommended stripping privileged status from a Sudanese charity that U.S. officials contend supported terrorism and is linked to a Columbia nonprofit.

In two late January meetings, the U.N.’s Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations debated and ultimately recommended the Islamic African Relief Agency’s “special consultative status” be withdrawn.  Such status allows the charity, usually called IARA, special access to U.N. facilities and permits it to attend and participate in meetings and serve as a technical expert and adviser. IARA has held special consultative status since 1985. Federal officials have said the Islamic American Relief Agency in Columbia is the U.S. affiliate of IARA. In October 2004, Treasury and FBI agents raided the Missouri group’s office and officially designated it as a terrorism supporter.

Posted on 14 February 2006 @ 15:27 GMT