Texas Business Lawyer

One of the more controversial issues regarding business laws these days concerns charities, or non-profit organizations. These entities have always been under a bit of scrutiny, but particularly so since 9/11, when the federal government has stepped up its efforts to enforce laundering statutes in an attempt to curtail terrorism funding both domestically and abroad.

That effort showed itself tangibly recently based in a high-profile article published by the Houston Chronicle, which detailed the opening of a trial involving a Muslim charity and its alleged role in funneling huge sums of money to Hamas, an organization that’s been under intense scrutiny by the federal government for some time.

The most relevant passage from the article appears below:

“The defendants named in a 42-count indictment in 2004 are Holy Land, which federal authorities raided and shut down in December 2001; Shukri Abu Baker, the charity’s president; Ghassan Elashi, its chairman; Abdulrahman Odeh; Mohammad El-Mezain; and Mufid Abdulqader. Two other men named in the indictment remain fugitives.

The charges include supporting a foreign terrorist group, money laundering, conspiracy and filing false tax returns.

According to the indictment, Holy Land raised more than $57 million from 1992 to 2001 and sent about $36 million to individuals and groups tied to Hamas, including $12.4 million after President Clinton designated Hamas a terrorist group in 1995, which made contact with the group illegal.”

This represents a growing phenomenon in the world of business law today – a closer eye on any entity that conducts business in scrutinized areas of the world. If you have a business law issue, contact the business lawyers at Slater & Kennon for an initial consultation.