INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC RELIEF ORGANIZATION SAUDI

S E C R E T JEDDAH 000195

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, IO; TREASURY FOR TFI U/S

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2019
TAGS: KISL PGOV PHUM SCUL SOCI PREL PINR SA
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC RELIEF ORGANIZATION SAUDI
ARABIA (IIROSA) SECRETARY GENERAL PUBLICLY DENIES ANY LINK
WITH TERRORISM

REF: JEDDAH 0084

Classified By: Consul General Martin R. Quinn for reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d)


1. (S) SUMMARY: The April 23 Arab News quotes International
Islamic Relief Organization of Saudi Arabia (IIROSA)
Secretary General Adnan Khalil Basha denying any link to
terrorist activities and appealing to the US Administration
to consider the lack of evidence against the organization.
Citing his February 15 letter to President Obama, Basha
invokes IIROSA's claim to have extended an earlier offer to
help Hurricane Katrin victims in apparent overture to the
new Adminisration. END SUMMARY.


2. (S) ARTICLE IN ARAB NEW. In April 23 interview entitled
"No Proof of Terorism against IIROSA" in Saudi-based Arab
News,IIROSA SYG Adnan Khalil Basha denies any link betwen
his organization and terrorism, citing his Fbruary 15
congratulatory letter to President Obama, forwarded by
consulate (reftel).


3. (SBU) DENIES LINK TO TERRORISM: Denying any connection
with terrorism, Basha expresses the "hope that the American
judiciary would understand the work of IIROSA and that it has
nothing to do with terrorism. The organization is against
terrorism and is fighting it through its relief and welfare
activities." Voicing confidence that IIROSA will be acquitted
since "all accusations leveled against Arab and Islamic
charities have in the past been proven to be baseless," Basha
claims that an American lawyer is following the case in the
US and keeping IIROSA informed of developments. He stresses
that "all accusations against IIROSA in America were based on
secret evidence not disclosed to IIROSA." Further defending
his organization, Basha notes that "welfare organizations are
fighting terrorism through efforts to alleviate the effects
of illiteracy, poverty and diseases."


4. (SBU) US TIES: HELP FOR KATRINA VICTIMS, LETTER TO POTUS:
The article quotes Basha asking "the new US administration,
which has a rational and realistic policy toward many issues,
to be objective concerning the IIROSA case that is being
considered by the American judiciary." Recalling his February
15 letter to the President explaining that terrorism thrives
in Muslim countries due to "poverty, ignorance, diseases and
other social ills," Basha claims to have offered assistance
to Hurricane Katrina victims through the US Consulate General
in Jeddah, complaining that he never received an
acknowledgment. (Post has no record of any communication on
the offer although several regional governments and
organizations offered Katrina assistance to the USG in
September 2005.)


5. (S) COMMENT: IIROSA SYG Adnan Basha appears eager to forge
a new relationship with the US Government. His long,
rambling letter to POTUS as well as comments to the media may
indicate an attempt to make an overture. Post's last contact
with IIROSA was in August 2006. IIRO Headquarters in Jeddah
has not yet been designated either domestically pursuant to
Executive Order 13224 or internationally via the UN1267 list
for involvement with terrorist financing. END COMMENT.
QUINN