Fake Palestinian Charity BUSTED as Terrorist Front!

Submitted by on

The United States Treasury Department announced on October 15th that a pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian organization that organized protests on American college campuses is a “sham charity” that fundraises for a terrorist organization.

In a joint action by the American and Canadian governments, the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, or Samidoun for short, was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department and was listed by the Canadian government as a terrorist entity where it is based.

Charlotte Kates, Samidoun’s international coordinator, claims that the organization, based in Vancouver, Canada, advocates for the rights of Palestinians, particularly those locked up in Israeli prisons.

However, the Treasury Department said that Samidoun serves as a front organization and fundraiser for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a far-leftist organization that the United States government deemed a terrorist group in 1997 and 2001.

“Organizations like Samidoun masquerade as charitable actors that claim to provide humanitarian support to those in need, yet, in reality, divert funds for much-needed assistance to support terrorist groups,” Bradley Smith, the acting undersecretary of the Treasury Department for Terrorism and Financial Terrorism, has said.

Khaled Barakat, Kate’s husband, was also sanctioned by the Treasury Department, saying that Barakat is part of the leadership of the PFLP.

The Treasury Department said the PFLP, which operates in Gaza and the West Bank, participated in the “horrific attacks against Israeli civilians” on October 7, 2023. 

Samidoun, which means “steadfast” in Arabic, has also been banned by Germany and Israel for its alleged ties with terrorist groups.

In an interview with NBC News, Kates called the October 7 attacks by Hamas against Israel “a brave and heroic operation.”

“That is something we stand by 100%,” she added. “The so-called Israeli state is a settler colony, and it never had the right to exist." 

The Treasury Department said its actions would help protect legitimate charity organizations.

“By publicly identifying sham charities, this action reduces the overall risk of the [nonprofit organization] sector and preserves access by legitimate humanitarian organizations to financial services,” the department said in a press release.

Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the US State Department, said that the “United States will continue to disrupt sham organizations that function under the guise of humanitarian organizations while funding terrorism.”

However, because the State Department has not designated the group as a foreign terrorist organization, it’s not a crime for protest groups to meet with Samidoun to organize demonstrations or to feature its members in webinars.

However, Barbara McQuade, a former US Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, believes the Treasury’s designation will impede Samidoun’s fundraising efforts.

“It’s meaningful,” McQuade said. “It prevents people from making financial contributions to them.”

See More Atheist News

If you like our posts, subscribe to the Atheist Republic newsletter to get exclusive content delivered weekly to your inbox. Also, get the book "Why There is No God" for free.

Click Here to Subscribe

Donating = Loving

Heart Icon

Bringing you atheist articles and building active godless communities takes hundreds of hours and resources each month. If you find any joy or stimulation at Atheist Republic, please consider becoming a Supporting Member with a recurring monthly donation of your choosing, between a cup of tea and a good dinner.

Or make a one-time donation in any amount.