Counterterrorism Blog

A review of public records of the Geneva branch of the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) show the charity has at least two Specially Designated terrorist financiers on its board, yet continues to function. As of Oct. 26, 2005, the IICO's lists both Youssef al Qardawi and Galeb Himmat as directors of its Geneva branch, according to a search of corporate documents on the group by the NEFA Foundation. Qardawi is not a run-of-the-mill terrorist financier. He has been a fountain of public statements against the United States, Israel and in favor of Islamic radicalism for many years.

The functioning of IICO shows how ineffective and toothless the international sanctions regime has become. Those on the U.N. list continue to operate freely, presiding over businesses and charities that give them continued access to millions of dollars. The organizations that hire them are not penalized and, in the end, neither are the individuals.

For example, Idriss Nasreddin, also a designated individual tied to the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshore banks, continues to operate an enormous business empire, often in partnership with another designated individual, Yousef Nada. Nasreddin now lives in Nigeria, having violated the international travel ban by leaving Italy for presumably more hospitable climes. If Nigeria can take a butcher like Charles Taylor, why not a white collar terrorist financier like Nasreddin?

The IICO is interesting for several other reasons. Several of the directors, including Himmat and al Qardawi were also major players in the Nassau-based Bank al Taqwa, the main Muslim Brotherhood bank, also designated as a terrorist-financing institution. The bank was also run by Nada and Nassredin.

And, NEFA investigation found, the IICO also operated as part of the Safa Group in Northern Virginia. For more on this relationship go here.