The US State Department is considering whether to designate a
Turkish charity as a ‘terrorist group’ after the organization sent a
ship of medical and school supplies to the Gaza Strip in May.
The aid ship was attacked in international waters by the Israeli
navy, and nine aid workers, including one US citizen, were killed.
The Foundation for Human Rights and Humanitarian Relief is a Muslim
charity based in Turkey that funds humanitarian aid missions to troubled
and impoverished places around the world.
Formed in 1992 with the goal of assisting Muslims in Bosnia, the
charity has branched out to many places, including Lebanon, Pakistan,
Sudan, Somalia and the Palestinian territories.
Although the Israeli-based Intelligence and Terrorism Information
Center says the Turkish charity is quote “a radical Islamic organization
with an anti-Western orientation,” the group has never been linked to
any violent activities or groups.
When the aid ship was attacked by the Israeli navy in May, the U.S.
Congress issued a statement declaring full support for the Israeli act
of piracy, and the Obama administration did not criticize the attack.
Despite the fact that smuggled video footage shows passengers being
killed execution-style by Israeli commandos, the U.S. government has
continued its policy of unquestioning support of the Israeli attack.
