UK charity denies Israel claims

Ayaz Ali said there was no truth
to the allegations against him

A UK charity has denied any links to a Palestinian militant group after one of its workers was expelled from Israel.

31 May 2006

BBC News

Ayaz Ali, 36, from Birmingham-based Islamic Relief Worldwide, was held for three weeks in an Israeli prison before he was deported indefinitely.

Israel said Islamic Relief supported the Hamas infrastructure and Mr Ali had provided it with funds and assistance.

The charity said there was no evidence and it would make representations to Israel to refute the claims.

Hamas is the controversial ruling Palestinian party and is considered a terrorist organisation by Israel, the US and the European Union.

But it is seen by its supporters as a legitimate fighting force defending Palestinians from military occupation.

In a statement, Islamic Relief said: "The allegations against Islamic Relief and Ayaz Ali are entirely unfounded."

The charity said Mr Ali had been a programme manager for its humanitarian projects in Gaza since December 2005.

A statement said: "His work is solely humanitarian and neither he nor Islamic Relief is involved in any political or politically-motivated activities in the Palestinian Territories."

A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said Mr Ali had signed a bond undertaking not to return to Gaza or the West Bank when he was freed by a judge on Monday.

Mr Ali, who is originally from Bradford, returned to the UK on Tuesday.

He said "There is not a grain of truth in anything that Islamic Relief or I have been accused of by the Israeli authorities."

Islamic Relief president Dr Hany El Banna, OBE, said: "Any aid agency working in the region, particularly one with 'Islamic' in its title, undergoes regular scrutiny.

"We have been accused and cleared every time and will continue to do our duty to humanity."