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→‎Affiliations controversy: rm repetition (its in next sentence)
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too much irrelevance, much has nothing to do with the IHH, this is not about what does not exist, but what it does. How does the IHH leader = Reuters?
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==Affiliations controversy==
==Affiliations controversy==
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''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' characterized IHH as "a radical Islamist group masquerading as a humanitarian agency."<ref name=Spencer/> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' is skeptical of the IHH's role simply as an Islamic "charity,"<ref name="Washington Post"/> and ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' believes the group has links to terror.<ref name="WSJ">[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703561604575282423181610814.html Turkey's Radical Drift]</ref>
A 1996 [[CIA]] report on terrorist abuse of charities, declassified after the [[September 11 attacks]], documented IHH as a charity with ties to "Iran and Algerian groups." According to the report, the director of the IHH office in [[Sarajevo]] "has been linked to Iranian operatives." with the report describing "terrorist-related activities and linkages" of fifteen "Islamic NGOs".<ref name="WINEP"/>


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The IHH is a member of a Saudi-based umbrella group of Islamic charities known as the [[Union of Good]].<ref name="WSJ"/>{{verify source}} [[Palestinian]] intelligence noted the group "is considered -- with regard to material support -- one of the biggest Hamas supporters." Israel outlawed the Union of Good in February 2002, and the United States designated it a global [[terrorist organization]] in November 2008. According to the U.S. [[Department of Treasury]], the Hamas leadership created the Union of the Good "in order to facilitate the transfer of funds to Hamas." Intelligence behind the U.S. designation found that the group "facilitates the transfer of tens of millions of dollars a year to Hamas-managed associations." It also "acts as a broker for Hamas by facilitating financial transfers between a web of charitable organizations...and Hamas-controlled organizations in the West Bank and Gaza."<ref name="WINEP">[http://washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=3208 Fallout from the Gaza Flotilla Tragedy]</ref>
Allegations of affiliation of IHH with Islamic militant groups originate in the 1990s, but become more pronounced after the 2010 [[Gaza flotilla raid]]. Israel remains the only country which has banned the group,<ref name=CSM /> while IHH has not been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm |title=Current List of Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations |publisher=Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism | date=January 19, 2010 | accessdate=2010-06-07}}</ref><ref name="state-briefing-20100607" /> [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation News]] has written the Israeli government and its supporters are trying to turn negative attention onto the groups behind the pro-Palestinian aid convoy,<ref name=ABC /> while Turkish analysts simply say the group represents the rise of a powerful religious middle class in a country where secularism was once strictly enforced.<ref name=WP />


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IHH Gaza representative Mehmet Kaya enjoys ready access to leaders of the Islamic militant group [[Hamas]]. He is seen as an unofficial Turkish ambassador. IHH activists claim they are strictly involved in humanitarian efforts and must deal with Hamas because it rules Gaza. Kaya says that support for the Gazan people gets through "when it goes through the Hamas government." Kaya is seen as a symbol of a dramatic shift in Turkish policy toward Iran and Syria, key patrons of Hamas, at the expense of its older alliance with Israel. In the week following the flotilla incident, Hamas distributed a statement quoting Erdogan as telling leader Ismail Haniyeh by phone that "we will continue to support you even if we remain alone." The website of the IHH shows its founder warmly embracing Hamas' exiled leader, [[Khaled Mashaal]], in Syria. According to Israel's security service, the [[Shin Bet]], the IHH is a major player in raising funds for Hamas.<ref name="AP"/> I.H.H. chairman Bülent Yildirim described group members who died on the ''Mavi Marmara'' as “[[martyrs]]."<ref name=newsweek1/>
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In the 2001 trial of [[Ahmed Ressam]] in [[Los Angeles]], the would-be Millennium bomber, French counterterrorism ex-magistrate [[Jean-Louis Bruguière]] gave testimony that the IHH had played an "important role" in the operation of the Montreal cell to which Ressam belonged, and mentioned "a rather close relation" between the Montreal cell and the Turkish group. The judge, [[John Coughenour]], ruled Bruguière's testimony inadmissible; in his words, much of the witness's testimony would "necessarily be based upon hearsay".<ref>{{cite web |title=United States of America ''v.'' Ahmed Ressam, CR 99-666-JCC, Reporter's Transcript of Proceedings, April 2, 2001 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/news/nation_world/terroristwithin/testimony16.pdf}}</ref> Bruguière, who investigated the group in the 1990s, said in June 2010 that he found links to terrorism networks, including [[al-Qaida]].<ref name="AP"/> In a 2010 interview with the [[Associated Press]], Bruguière said: "The IHH is an NGO, but it was also a type of cover-up . . . in order to obtain forged documents and to obtain different forms of infiltration for Mujahideen in combat. And also to go and gather [recruit] these Mujahideens." Bruguière said he did not know whether IHH was still in the terror business, but he added that "they were basically helping al Qaeda when [Osama] [[bin Laden]] started to want to target U.S. soil."<ref name="WSJ"/>{{verify source}} The U.S. has said it "cannot validate" a connection between al-Qaida and IHH.<ref name="state-briefing-20100607"/>


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In the 2001 trial of [[Ahmed Ressam]] in [[Seattle]], the would-be Millennium bomber, French counterterrorism ex-magistrate [[Jean-Louis Bruguiere]] testified that the IHH had played an "important role" in Ressam's plot to bomb LAX airport on New Year's Day, 2000, and mentioned "a rather close relation" between the bomber and the Turkish group. Bruguiere, who investigated the group in the 1990s, said he found links to terrorism networks, including [[al-Qaida]].<ref name="AP"/> In a 2010 interview with the [[Associated Press]], Judge Bruguiere said: "The IHH is an NGO, but it was also a type of cover-up . . . in order to obtain forged documents and to obtain different forms of infiltration for Mujahideen in combat. And also to go and gather [recruit] these Mujahideens." The judge said he did not know whether IHH was still in the terror business, but he added that "they were basically helping al Qaeda when [Osama] [[bin Laden]] started to want to target U.S. soil."<ref name="WSJ"/>
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In a 2006 study for the [[Danish Institute for International Studies]], with respect to IHH largely based on Bruguière's findings, terrorism analyst [[Evan Kohlmann]]'s reports that Turkey had known of the IHH links to terrorism for at least ten years : Turkish authorities began their own domestic criminal investigation of IHH as early as December 1997, when sources revealed that leaders of IHH were purchasing automatic weapons from other regional Islamic militant groups. IHH's bureau in Istanbul was thoroughly searched, and its local officers were arrested. Security forces uncovered an array of disturbing items, including firearms, explosives, bomb-making instructions, and a [[jihad]] flag." After analyzing seized IHH documents, Turkish authorities concluded that "detained members of IHH were going to fight in [[Afghanistan]], [[Bosnia]] and [[Chechnya]]." IHH said in 2010 the raid was politically motivated at a time when Turkish security officials were cracking down on Islamist groups. Asked about the incident on Friday, Yildirim told reporters, "Turkey had a different political context in the 1990s, and a different political power ruled, which played a game with us. I was acquitted by a court anyway."<ref>[http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-49055220100604 Reuters: Q&A - Turkish Gaza aid group under the spotlight]</ref>


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In a 2006 study for the [[Danish Institute for International Studies]], terrorism analyst [[Evan Kohlmann]]'s finds that Turkey had known of the IHH links to terrorism for at least ten years : Turkish authorities began their own domestic criminal investigation of IHH as early as December 1997, when sources revealed that leaders of IHH were purchasing automatic weapons from other regional Islamic militant groups. IHH's bureau in Istanbul was thoroughly searched, and its local officers were arrested. Security forces uncovered an array of disturbing items, including firearms, explosives, bomb-making instructions, and a [[jihad]] flag." After analyzing seized IHH documents, Turkish authorities concluded that "detained members of IHH were going to fight in [[Afghanistan]], [[Bosnia]] and [[Chechnya]]."
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In July 2008 it was announced that Israeli Defense Minister [[Ehud Barak]] had signed an order declaring IHH and 35 other funds banned associations in Israel, alleging that they are members of an organization run by Hamas known as the [[Union of Good]] and part of Hamas' fundraising network, and support and assist it.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2008/Defense+Minister+signs+order+banning+Hamas-affiliated+charitable+organizations+7-Jul-2008.htm | title=Defense Minister signs order banning Hamas-affiliated charitable organizations |publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs| date=July 7, 2008 | accessdate=2010-06-07}}</ref> Israel outlawed the Union of Good in February 2002, and the United States designated it a global [[terrorist organization]] in November 2008. According to the U.S. [[Department of Treasury]], the Hamas leadership created the Union of the Good "in order to facilitate the transfer of funds to Hamas." Intelligence behind the U.S. designation found that the group "facilitates the transfer of tens of millions of dollars a year to Hamas-managed associations." It also "acts as a broker for Hamas by facilitating financial transfers between a web of charitable organizations...and Hamas-controlled organizations in the West Bank and Gaza."<ref name="WINEP">[http://washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=3208 Fallout from the Gaza Flotilla Tragedy]</ref>

IHH has not been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm |title=Current List of Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations |publisher=Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism | date=January 19, 2010 | accessdate=2010-06-07}}</ref><ref name="state-briefing-20100607">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2010/06/142591.htm |title=US Department of State Daily Press Briefing June 2, 2010 | |date=2010-06-02 |accessdate=2010-06-07}}</ref> At the State Department's June 2, 2010 daily press briefing, assistant secretary Philip J. Crowley told reporters "We cannot validate" a connection between al-Qaida and IHH, but he did express "great concern" over known meetings between IHH and senior Hamas officials.<ref name="state-briefing-20100607"/> US officials have questioned Israeli claims of ties to terrorist groups.<ref name=NW /> Israel is the only country which has banned the group.<ref name=CSM>[http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2010/0601/Targeted-by-Israeli-raid-Who-is-the-IHH/(page)/2 Targeted by Israeli raid: Who is the IHH?]</ref> Turkish analysts said it is unlikely that authorities would permit an organization linked to al-Qaeda to operate in Istanbul. IHH reflects something else, they said: the rise of a powerful religious middle class in a country where secularism was once strictly enforced.<ref name=WP>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/09/AR2010060905930.html Islamic charity at center of flotilla clash known for relief work and confrontation]</ref>
In the wake of the deadly raid on the Gaza flotilla, the Israeli government and its supporters are trying to turn negative attention onto the groups behind the pro-Palestinian aid convoy.<ref name=ABC>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/03/2917766.htm Israel labels aid group terrorists]</ref> U.S. officials are questioning Israeli claims that one of the Gaza relief convoy’s sponsors, IHH, has ties to terrorist groups.<ref name=NW />

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Two U.S. counterterrorism officials say that although there is evidence that IHH or some of its personnel had interactions in the past with radical groups beyond Hamas—possibly including Al Qaeda—intelligence available at present does not substantiate a significant connection between IHH and Osama bin Laden’s terrorist organization. The Obama administration asked the Turkish government late last year for information about possible IHH links to terrorist groups. Two of the officials say the fact that IHH still isn’t on the list is a sign that Turkey’s response did not show a substantial connection between IHH and active terrorists. And the Obama administration has no plans at present to add IHH to the list, according to two of the officials. “IHH is sympathetic to Hamas,” says one of the officials. “[But] that by itself does not make them terrorists.”<ref name=NW>[http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/declassified/2010/06/04/was-the-gaza-flotilla-linked-to-terrorists-.html Was the Gaza Flotilla Linked to Terrorists?]</ref>
NPR has described the group as a "humanitarian organization that co-sponsored last week's flotilla of aid ships that attempted, with deadly results, to break Israel's blockade of Gaza".<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127525738 NPR: Turkish Aid Group Says It's Not Tied To Terrorists]</ref> NPR said that "as the IHH shot to attention, so have Israeli accusations that it supports terrorism" and that the group was "renovating the port, funding a Turkish-Palestinian school and plans to build a hospital and apartments for Gazans made homeless during the war with Israel early last year. The group also supports 9,000 families with money and food parcels, and is hosting computer and sewing courses for women."<ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127413474 NPR: Turkish Group Behind Flotilla Is Gaza's New Hero]</ref>
''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote that the organization, founded in 1992 to collect aid for the Bosnians, is now active in 120 countries and has been present at recent disaster areas like Haiti and New Orleans. “Our volunteers were not trained military personnel,” said Yavuz Dede, deputy director of the organization. “They were civilians trying to get aid to Gaza. There were artists, intellectuals and journalists among them. Such an offensive cannot be explained by any terms.”<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/01/world/middleeast/01flotilla.html NYTimes: Deadly Israeli Raid Draws Condemnation]</ref> ''The New York Times'' also wrote that in defending the raid Israel also used "a soundtrack and some titles written in the sort of faux-hip lingo employed by ad copywriters who want to reach out to young people. For instance, the titles promise to explain “the real deal” about “what went down” during the raid."<ref>[http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/video-on-netanyahus-facebook-page-says-activists-plotted-a-terrorist-attack/ NYTimes: Video on Netanyahu’s Facebook Page Says Activists Plotted ‘a Terrorist Attack’]</ref>

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[[Richard Spencer (journalist)|Richard Spencer]], writing in ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'', characterized IHH as "a radical Islamist group masquerading as a humanitarian agency", citing claims by Israeli authorities, but noted that the claims "remain controversial".<ref name=Spencer/> An [[editorial]] in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' was skeptical of the IHH's role simply as an Islamic "charity,"<ref name="Washington Post">[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/04/AR2010060404806.html Turkey's Erdogan bears responsibility in flotilla fiasco]</ref> and an article in the ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', mentioning "widely reported links to Hamas" and citing the testimony of Jean-Louis Bruguière in the trial of Ahmed Ressam, declared that the government of Turkey, rather than Israel, was accountable for the violent events of the flotilla raid.<ref name="WSJ">[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703561604575282423181610814.html Turkey's Radical Drift]</ref>

Stephen M. Walt, writing for Foreign Policy, wrote that "Israeli officials have sought to portray the activists, whose ranks included citizens from fifty countries, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, a former U.S. ambassador, and an elderly Holocaust survivor, as terrorist sympathizers with ties to Hamas and even al Qaeda."<ref>[http://walt.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/05/31/israels_latest_brutal_blunder Israel's latest brutal blunder]</ref>

Turkey has said it supports the charity.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/10226151.stm Turkey mourns dead Gaza activists]</ref> The BBC reported "its energetic championing of the Palestinian cause, in particular the plight of people in Gaza, has struck a chord with many Turks".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8714983.stm Has Israel lost lone regional Muslim ally Turkey?]</ref>

The Guardian has described IHH as "an Islamic humanitarian group that is based in Istanbul but operates in several other countries"<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9104994 Guardian: Israeli commandos storm aid flotilla; 9 killed]</ref> and written that "the Americans appeared to confirm that there was no evidence to suggest that IHH was a terrorist organisation with links to al-Qaida. And the Israeli army all but admitted that the activists did not have guns of their own before the raid."<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/04/israeli-pr-machine-gaza-flotilla-media-battle Guardian: Israeli PR machine won Gaza flotilla media battle]</ref>

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IHH Gaza representative Mehmet Kaya enjoys ready access to leaders of the Islamic militant group [[Hamas]]. He is seen as an unofficial Turkish ambassador. IHH activists claim they are strictly involved in humanitarian efforts and must deal with Hamas because it rules Gaza. Kaya says that support for the Gazan people gets through "when it goes through the Hamas government." Kaya is seen as a symbol of a dramatic shift in Turkish policy toward Iran and Syria, key patrons of Hamas, at the expense of its older alliance with Israel. In the week following the flotilla incident, Hamas distributed a statement quoting Erdogan as telling leader Ismail Haniyeh by phone that "we will continue to support you even if we remain alone." The website of the IHH shows its founder warmly embracing Hamas' exiled leader, [[Khaled Mashaal]], in Syria. According to Israel's security service, the [[Shin Bet]], the IHH is a major player in raising funds for Hamas.<ref name="AP"/>

Today's Zaman has written "the Israeli government tries to portray the Turkish human rights activists as terrorists. I have been closely monitoring the activities of the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH), who cannot be labeled terrorists. Such language would only help al-Qaeda or other terror organizations justify their actions. In fact millions of Turks consider the İHH to be a humanitarian organization and would not buy such an argument".<ref>[http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/yazarDetay.do?haberno=213120 Today's Zaman: Israel is losing its PR battle]</ref>

Cihan News Agency has described IHH as a "Turkish humanitarian relief organization"<ref>[http://www.cihanmedya.com/media_services/product.do?method=detail&productId=2243&categoryId=2228224&productDetailId=105545730&productEvent=MaxNew Cihan: Turkish Premier Says Hamas not a Terrorist Organization]</ref> and reported a British MP said "Israel has also creating blind excuses and trying to cover the attack".<ref>[http://www.cihanmedya.com/media_services/product.do?method=detail&productId=2243&categoryId=3670021&productDetailId=106496008&productEvent=MaxNew Cihan: UK European Countries Should Suspend Relations with Israel, British M.P]</ref>

Reuters has written that "the Istanbul-based Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) is an Islamic charity group that was formed to provide aid to Bosnian Muslims in the mid-1990s. It has been involved in aid missions in Pakistan, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Indonesia, Iraq, Palestinian territories and other places, according to Turkish media."<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64U4SO20100601 Reuters: Factbox: Turkish charity group behind Gaza-bound convoy]</ref> Reuters also reported that IHH is not classified as a terror organisation by Israel and that the move was Israeli "propaganda".<ref>[http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-49055220100604 Reuters: Q&A - Turkish Gaza aid group under the spotlight]</ref>


The [[Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center]] (ITIC)—an Israel-based [[NGO]] with close ties to the country’s defense ministry—acknowledged the IHH’s philanthropic activities, but it also says the group is an overt supporter of Hamas. The ITIC says it has evidence that the IHH has helped to provide weapons and funds for Islamic terrorist groups in the Middle East.<ref name=Spencer/>
The [[Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center]] (ITIC)—an Israel-based [[NGO]] with close ties to the country’s defense ministry—acknowledged the IHH’s philanthropic activities, but it also says the group is an overt supporter of Hamas. The ITIC says it has evidence that the IHH has helped to provide weapons and funds for Islamic terrorist groups in the Middle East.<ref name=Spencer/>


Henri Barkey, a Turkish analyst at the [[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] and a professor of international relations at [[Lehigh University]], called the IHH "an Islamist organisationas it has been deeply involved with Hamas for some time. Some of its members went on the boat [of the flotilla headed for Gaza] saying that they had written their last will and testament."<ref name=Spencer/> He later added, “This is an Islamist charity, quite fundamentalist, quite close to Hamas. They say they do charity work, but they’ve been accused of gunrunning and other things, and their rhetoric has been inflammatory against Israel and sometimes against Jews.”<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/world/middleeast/02activists.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Turkish Funds Helped Group Test Blockade]</ref>
Henri Barkey, a Turkish analyst at the [[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] and a professor of international relations at [[Lehigh University]], called the IHH "an Islamist organisationas it has been deeply involved with Hamas for some time. Some of its members went on the boat [of the flotilla headed for Gaza] saying that they had written their last will and testament."<ref name=Spencer/> He later added, “This is an Islamist charity, quite fundamentalist, quite close to Hamas. They say they do charity work, but they’ve been accused of gunrunning and other things, and their rhetoric has been inflammatory against Israel and sometimes against Jews.”<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/world/middleeast/02activists.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Turkish Funds Helped Group Test Blockade]</ref>

In July 2008 it was announced that Israeli Defense Minister [[Ehud Barak]] had signed an order declaring IHH (and 35 other funds) banned associations in Israel, saying that the IHH is part of a Hamas extremist Islamic foundations fundraising network, and supports and assists Hamas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2008/Defense+Minister+signs+order+banning+Hamas-affiliated+charitable+organizations+7-Jul-2008.htm | title=Defense Minister signs order banning Hamas-affiliated charitable organizations |publisher=Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs| date=July 7, 2008 | acceessdate=2010-06-07}}</ref>


A member of the group, Izzet Sahin, had previously been arrested by the Israeli security forces on charges of aiding [[Palestinian]] organizations banned by Israel. Serkan Nergis, a spokesman for IHH, told Reuters: "We don't have anything against Israel. Our only aim was to carry aid to the people of Gaza. But for Israel, regardless of your religion or your nationality, if you help the people of Gaza you will be declared a terrorist."<ref name=Reutfactbox/>
A member of the group, Izzet Sahin, had previously been arrested by the Israeli security forces on charges of aiding [[Palestinian]] organizations banned by Israel. Serkan Nergis, a spokesman for IHH, told Reuters: "We don't have anything against Israel. Our only aim was to carry aid to the people of Gaza. But for Israel, regardless of your religion or your nationality, if you help the people of Gaza you will be declared a terrorist."<ref name=Reutfactbox/>


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Two U.S. counter-terrorism officials told ''[[Newsweek]]'' that although there is evidence that I.H.H. or some of its personnel had interactions in the past with radical groups beyond Hamas—possibly including Al Qaeda—intelligence available at present does not substantiate a significant connection between I.H.H. and Osama bin Laden’s terrorist organization. The Obama administration asked the Turkish government late last year for information about possible I.H.H. links to terrorist groups. Two of the officials say the fact that I.H.H. still isn’t on the list is a sign that Turkey’s response did not show a substantial connection between I.H.H. and active terrorists. One official said, “I.H.H. is sympathetic to Hamas. [But] that by itself does not make them terrorists.”<ref name=newsweek1>[http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/declassified/2010/06/04/was-the-gaza-flotilla-linked-to-terrorists-.html Was the Gaza Flotilla Linked to Terrorists?]</ref>
Hurriyet wrote that the Turkish government "dismissed the responsibility of the IHH, an Islamic charity that owns Mavi Marmara"<ref>[http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=seeking-peace-planting-hatred-2010-06-11 Hurriyet: Seeking peace, planting hatred]</ref> and that "officials with the group deny the claims, saying the passengers on the vessels were ‘100 percent’ peaceful volunteers and that the NGO is pursuing an agenda of broad humanitarian assistance rather than promoting Islam". Hurriyet further reported IHH officials said "claims that the İHH has ties to terrorist organizations are part of a smear campaign by Israel".<ref>[http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=ihh-denied-accusations-brought-against-them-2010-06-04 Hurriyet: Turkish humanitarian group on Gaza ship denies accusations against them]</ref>

In response to the Israeli accusations, IHH said “as if the terrorist attack Israel carried towards civilians and unarmed human rights activists and humanitarian aid workers is not enough, now it is slandering these people. This is cheap black propaganda, based on lies and defamation.”<ref>[http://www.ihh.org.tr/ihh-dan-israil-e-cevap-israil-in-yaptigi-ucuz-bir-karalama-kampanyasi/en/ ]</ref>

The [[Free Gaza Movement]], another group which was involved in the aid flotilla, released a statement saying that they are "proud and honored to work and be associated with the IHH and its honorable track record of humanitarian missions worldwide".<ref>[http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/56-news/1220-our-deepest-sympathies Our deepest sympathies]</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 07:58, 15 June 2010

İHH İnsani Yardım Vakfı (full Turkish name: İnsan Hak ve Hürriyetleri ve İnsani Yardım Vakfı,[1] in English: The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief) or IHH is a Turkish NGO active in more than 100 countries.[2] Established in 1992 and officially registered in Istanbul in 1995, IHH provides humanitarian relief in areas of war, earthquake, hunger, and conflict.[3] The IHH has held Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2004.[4][5]

The IHH came to international attention in the aftermath of the Gaza flotilla raid of 31 May 2010. The IHH was owner and operator of three of the six flotilla ships involved in the incident, including the MV Mavi Marmara, which served as the flagship of the convoy.[6][7] Nine passengers, all of them members or volunteers for the IHH,[8] aboard the Mavi Marmara were killed by Israeli forces in a raid that began when commandos boarded the vessel.[9][10][11][12]

Background

The Istanbul-based Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) is an Islamic charity group that was formed to provide aid to Bosnian Muslims in the mid-1990s. It has been involved in aid missions in Pakistan, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Indonesia, Iraq, Palestinian territories, Sudan, Ghana, Mongolia, China, Brazil, Argentina and other places.[13] It is banned in Israel.

The organisation has been active in Turkey, the Middle East, Europe, South America, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Caucasus.[14] IHH has held Special Consultative status as an NGO (non-governmental organization) in the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2004.[4][5] IHH is organiser of Africa Cataract Project which aims to fight against blindness in Africa.

Turkey regards the IHH as a non-governmental organization.

Board and Trustees

Board members include:[15]

  • Ali Yandır (Administrator)
  • Muhammet Hanefi Kutluoğlu (Educator)
  • Yusuf Şahin (Educator)

Trustees include:[16]

  • Fehmi Bülent Yıldırım - President/Lawyer
  • Hüseyin Oruç - Deputy President/Administrator
  • Mahmut Savaş - Charter member/Lawyer

Active Regions

The group offers emergency aid, educational aid, volunteer activities, scholar meetings, cultural aid, and health aid. IHH is active in some of the following areas:[17]

  • Turkey
  • Middle East
    • Iraq, Palestine, Iran, Cyprus, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Yemen
  • Europe
    • Slovenia, Hungary
  • Africa
    • Somali, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Burundi, Algeria, Djibouti, Chad, Dem.Kongo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa C., Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Cameroon, Kenya, Comoros Islands, Leshoto, Madagascar, Malawi, Financial, Mauritius, Corn, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Ogedan, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunis, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
  • Balkans
    • Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Greece, Western Thrace, Montenegro, Flag
  • America
    • Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Haiti, Colombia, Cuba, Peru, Suriname, Chile, Venezuelan
  • Central Asia
    • Afghanistan, China, East Turkestan, Kirghizistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Tatarstan, Yakut, Siberia, Altay people
  • South Asia
    • Bangladesh, East Timor, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Cambodia, Moro, Kashmir, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Patani, Siri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam,
  • Asia
    • Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Abkhazia, Ajaria, Adygea-Şapsığ, Meskhetian, Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay Cherkessia, Crimea, Ossetia

Awards

IHH has recieved the following awards:[18]

  • Awarded by the Turkish General Directorate of Foundations as the foundation that uses its resources in the most efficient way – 2005
  • Awarded by the Turkish General Directorate of Foundations for the best projects (Projects: Ashiyana Orphanage – Pakistan, Women Education Institute – Somali, Mobile Hospital – Iraq – 2006
  • Awarded by the Turkish Parliament with the Parliament Award of Honor – 2007

Humanitarian activities

The IHH engages in social and cultural activities, in addition to health services in more than 100 countries[19]. The foundation runs the Africa Cataract Project, begun in 2007, in ten African countries. Other activities include providing health care and water wells in Africa. IHH sent two cargo planes to Haiti with 33 tons of humanitarian aid supplies after the 2010 Haiti earthquake.[14]

In December 2007, Today's Zaman wrote that "various civil society organizations such as Kimse Yok Mu? (Is Anybody There?), Deniz Feneri (Lighthouse), the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (İHH) and Can Suyu assisted thousands of charitable donors in reaching out to poverty-stricken residents of the Kurdish-dominated eastern and southeastern regions of Turkey."[20]

World Bulletin wrote in August 2009 that hundreds of water wells were digged and fountains were built in a aid move under the leadership of Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) across African countries.[21] Several Turkish nongovernmental organizations, such as Kimse Yok Mu? (Is anybody there?), the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH) and Deniz Feneri (lighthouse), also provided aid to storm survivors in Bangladesh.[22]

IHH previously sent packages containing flour, legumes, oil and sugar to 350 families residing in Zewaya Dugda one of the poorest regions in the Ethiopia. The UN announced that around 6 million children in Ethiopia faced risk of acute under-nutrition and urged countries to send aids to this country.[23]

After the earthquake in Indonesia, Doctors Worldwide and The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) sent volunteers and aid to Indonesia.[24] IHH opened mosques, digged waterwells, distributed Qur'ans, organized iftars, aiding orphans and refugees in Darfur.[25]

In Gaza, the IHH is renovating the port, funding a Turkish-Palestinian school and plans to build a hospital and apartments for Gazans made homeless during the Gaza War.[26]

Gaza flotilla

Main article: Gaza flotilla raid

In January 2010, the Free Gaza Movement and IHH announced a joint venture to send ten boats to the Gaza strip in the spring of 2010, a flotilla to be further joined by organizations from Greece, Ireland and Sweden.[27] On May 30, 2010, a flotilla of six ships carrying 663 activists from 37 nations rendezvoused near Cyprus and set sail for Gaza.[28][29] The stated intention of the Gaza flotilla, like for earlier flotillas organized by the Free Gaza Movement, was to break through the Israeli blockade of the Gaza strip to deliver humanitarian supplies.[30][31] The IHH spent more than $2 million on the ships.[32] IHH activists were set apart from other activists involved in the mission by a willingness to fight Israeli forces.[8]

On May 31, 2010, Israeli forces boarded and seized the ships in international waters. On the MV Mavi Marmara, one of the ships owned and operated by the IHH, nine passengers were killed, and dozens of people injured, including several Israeli commandos, after IHH volunteers attacked the boarding commandos with metal rods and knives. Subsequently, Israel towed the six ships to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where the cargo was unloaded, inspected, and some of it delivered to Gaza. Hamas refused to accept delivery of the goods until it was delivered in full and all the arrested activists were released. The incident prompted international reaction and resulted in Egypt lifting its blockade of Gaza and opening its Rafah Border Crossing with the Gaza Strip.[33] The 08 June 2010, Mr Benny Begin, an Israeli minister, said that a special commission in Israel will make investigations to know if the blockade of Gaza is in accordance with international laws : "The committee that will be formed will examine two questions: Is the naval blockade in line with international law, and is the raid we conducted against the flotilla also in line with international law?"

Affiliations controversy

The Daily Telegraph characterized IHH as "a radical Islamist group masquerading as a humanitarian agency."[3] The Washington Post is skeptical of the IHH's role simply as an Islamic "charity,"[34] and The Wall Street Journal believes the group has links to terror.[35] A 1996 CIA report on terrorist abuse of charities, declassified after the September 11 attacks, documented IHH as a charity with ties to "Iran and Algerian groups." According to the report, the director of the IHH office in Sarajevo "has been linked to Iranian operatives." with the report describing "terrorist-related activities and linkages" of fifteen "Islamic NGOs".[36]

The IHH is a member of a Saudi-based umbrella group of Islamic charities known as the Union of Good.[35][verification needed] Palestinian intelligence noted the group "is considered -- with regard to material support -- one of the biggest Hamas supporters." Israel outlawed the Union of Good in February 2002, and the United States designated it a global terrorist organization in November 2008. According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, the Hamas leadership created the Union of the Good "in order to facilitate the transfer of funds to Hamas." Intelligence behind the U.S. designation found that the group "facilitates the transfer of tens of millions of dollars a year to Hamas-managed associations." It also "acts as a broker for Hamas by facilitating financial transfers between a web of charitable organizations...and Hamas-controlled organizations in the West Bank and Gaza."[36]

IHH Gaza representative Mehmet Kaya enjoys ready access to leaders of the Islamic militant group Hamas. He is seen as an unofficial Turkish ambassador. IHH activists claim they are strictly involved in humanitarian efforts and must deal with Hamas because it rules Gaza. Kaya says that support for the Gazan people gets through "when it goes through the Hamas government." Kaya is seen as a symbol of a dramatic shift in Turkish policy toward Iran and Syria, key patrons of Hamas, at the expense of its older alliance with Israel. In the week following the flotilla incident, Hamas distributed a statement quoting Erdogan as telling leader Ismail Haniyeh by phone that "we will continue to support you even if we remain alone." The website of the IHH shows its founder warmly embracing Hamas' exiled leader, Khaled Mashaal, in Syria. According to Israel's security service, the Shin Bet, the IHH is a major player in raising funds for Hamas.[26] I.H.H. chairman Bülent Yildirim described group members who died on the Mavi Marmara as “martyrs."[37]

In the 2001 trial of Ahmed Ressam in Seattle, the would-be Millennium bomber, French counterterrorism ex-magistrate Jean-Louis Bruguiere testified that the IHH had played an "important role" in Ressam's plot to bomb LAX airport on New Year's Day, 2000, and mentioned "a rather close relation" between the bomber and the Turkish group. Bruguiere, who investigated the group in the 1990s, said he found links to terrorism networks, including al-Qaida.[26] In a 2010 interview with the Associated Press, Judge Bruguiere said: "The IHH is an NGO, but it was also a type of cover-up . . . in order to obtain forged documents and to obtain different forms of infiltration for Mujahideen in combat. And also to go and gather [recruit] these Mujahideens." The judge said he did not know whether IHH was still in the terror business, but he added that "they were basically helping al Qaeda when [Osama] bin Laden started to want to target U.S. soil."[35]

In a 2006 study for the Danish Institute for International Studies, terrorism analyst Evan Kohlmann's finds that Turkey had known of the IHH links to terrorism for at least ten years : Turkish authorities began their own domestic criminal investigation of IHH as early as December 1997, when sources revealed that leaders of IHH were purchasing automatic weapons from other regional Islamic militant groups. IHH's bureau in Istanbul was thoroughly searched, and its local officers were arrested. Security forces uncovered an array of disturbing items, including firearms, explosives, bomb-making instructions, and a jihad flag." After analyzing seized IHH documents, Turkish authorities concluded that "detained members of IHH were going to fight in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Chechnya."

The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC)—an Israel-based NGO with close ties to the country’s defense ministry—acknowledged the IHH’s philanthropic activities, but it also says the group is an overt supporter of Hamas. The ITIC says it has evidence that the IHH has helped to provide weapons and funds for Islamic terrorist groups in the Middle East.[3]

Henri Barkey, a Turkish analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a professor of international relations at Lehigh University, called the IHH "an Islamist organisationas it has been deeply involved with Hamas for some time. Some of its members went on the boat [of the flotilla headed for Gaza] saying that they had written their last will and testament."[3] He later added, “This is an Islamist charity, quite fundamentalist, quite close to Hamas. They say they do charity work, but they’ve been accused of gunrunning and other things, and their rhetoric has been inflammatory against Israel and sometimes against Jews.”[38]

In July 2008 it was announced that Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak had signed an order declaring IHH (and 35 other funds) banned associations in Israel, saying that the IHH is part of a Hamas extremist Islamic foundations fundraising network, and supports and assists Hamas.[39]

A member of the group, Izzet Sahin, had previously been arrested by the Israeli security forces on charges of aiding Palestinian organizations banned by Israel. Serkan Nergis, a spokesman for IHH, told Reuters: "We don't have anything against Israel. Our only aim was to carry aid to the people of Gaza. But for Israel, regardless of your religion or your nationality, if you help the people of Gaza you will be declared a terrorist."[13]

Two U.S. counter-terrorism officials told Newsweek that although there is evidence that I.H.H. or some of its personnel had interactions in the past with radical groups beyond Hamas—possibly including Al Qaeda—intelligence available at present does not substantiate a significant connection between I.H.H. and Osama bin Laden’s terrorist organization. The Obama administration asked the Turkish government late last year for information about possible I.H.H. links to terrorist groups. Two of the officials say the fact that I.H.H. still isn’t on the list is a sign that Turkey’s response did not show a substantial connection between I.H.H. and active terrorists. One official said, “I.H.H. is sympathetic to Hamas. [But] that by itself does not make them terrorists.”[37]

References

  1. ^ The organization regularly gives its name as İnsan Hak ve Hürriyetleri İnsani Yardım Vakfı, but the full version in which the Turkish word ve ("and") appears twice is the name as given as the foundation's name in Article 1 of its act of establishment: "Vakıf Kuruluş Senedi" (in Turkish). ihh.org.tr.
  2. ^ "Profile: Free Gaza Movement". BBC News. BBC. 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  3. ^ a b c d Richard Spencer (2010-05-31). "Gaza flotilla: the Free Gaza Movement and the IHH". Telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  4. ^ a b "Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief, The". NGO Branch, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  5. ^ a b "List of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council as of 1 September 2009" (PDF). United Nations Economic and Social Council. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  6. ^ Slackman, Michael (2010-06-03). "In Bid to Quell Anger Over Raid, Israel Frees Detainees". The New York Times. Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
  7. ^ Reynolds, Paul (2010-06-02). "Israeli convoy raid: What went wrong?". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  8. ^ a b Turkish Charity Group Sounds Defiant Note
  9. ^ Edmund Sanders (2010-06-01). "Israel criticized over raid on Gaza flotilla". Los Angeles Times. Eddy Hartenstein. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  10. ^ Al Jazeera staff and agencies (2010-05-30). "Israel attacks Gaza aid fleet". Al-Jazeera. Retrieved 2010-06-02.
  11. ^ CNN Wire Staff (2010-05-30). "Israeli assault on Gaza-bound flotilla leaves at least 9 dead". CNN. Retrieved 2010-06-02. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ Al Jazeera staff and agencies (2010-06-05). "Flotilla activists 'shot 30 times'". Al-Jazeera. Retrieved 2010-06-06.
  13. ^ a b Villelabeitia, Ibon (2010-05-31). "Factbox: Turkish charity group behind Gaza-bound convoy". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  14. ^ a b "(website in Turkish)". Insani Yardim Vakfi. Insani Yardim Vakfi. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  15. ^ IHH: Board
  16. ^ IHH: Trustees
  17. ^ IHH: Active Regions
  18. ^ IHH: Awards
  19. ^ Where We Work
  20. ^ Eid helps boost unity in Turkey
  21. ^ Turkey's IHH completes water well projects across Africa before Ramadan
  22. ^ Turkish NGOs lend helping hand to Bangladesh
  23. ^ Turkish Charity Foundation Sends Aid To Ethiopian Families Against Famine
  24. ^ Turkish charity foundations to help Indonesia
  25. ^ Turkey's IHH conducts series of Ramadan aids in Sudan's Darfur
  26. ^ a b c Diaa Hadid (June 3, 2010). "Turkish group behind flotilla is Gaza's new hero". CBS News. Retrieved June 15, 2010.
  27. ^ "Our Last Port Is Freedom: Sending a Flotilla in the Spring to Break the Siege of Gaza" (Press release). Free Gaza Movement. January 28, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  28. ^ Tia Goldenberg (May 31, 2010). "Pro-Palestinian aid flotilla sets sail for Gaza". San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  29. ^ Kosharek, Noah; Kyzer, Liel; Ravid, Barak (2010-06-01). "Israel transfers hundreds of Gaza flotilla activists to airport for deportation". Haaretz. Schocken Family. Retrieved 2010-05-30.
  30. ^ Black, Ian; Siddique, Haroon (2010-05-30). "Q&A: The Gaza Freedom flotilla". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  31. ^ "Israel's flotilla raid revives questions of international law". The Washington Post. Katharine Weymouth. 2010-06-01. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  32. ^ "Turkey to Challenge Israel, Support Hamas - Defense/Middle East - Israel News". Israel National News. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  33. ^ Macdonald, Alastair (2010-06-01). "Egypt opens Gaza border after Israel ship clash". Reuters. Thomson Reuters. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  34. ^ Cite error: The named reference Washington Post was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  35. ^ a b c Turkey's Radical Drift
  36. ^ a b Fallout from the Gaza Flotilla Tragedy
  37. ^ a b Was the Gaza Flotilla Linked to Terrorists?
  38. ^ Turkish Funds Helped Group Test Blockade
  39. ^ "Defense Minister signs order banning Hamas-affiliated charitable organizations". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. July 7, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |acceessdate= ignored (help)

External links

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