Episcopal Relief and Development is an agency of the Episcopal Church. It is working hand in hand with the jihad-linked organization Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA), which is an affiliate of Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) — “the largest international Islamic charity in the world, with a $240 million operating budget, nearly 300 employees, chapters in more than 12 countries with their own multi-billion dollar budgets, and operations in over 30 countries, all based in Birmingham, England.”
IRW has been reported to be terror-linked by NGO Monitor and other organizations and countries. IRW is also banned in the United Arab Emirates because of its alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Center for Security Policy has reported that “IRUSA has multiple officials with direct ties to the Muslim Brotherhood (MB).” Also according to the Center for Security Policy:
The IRUSA’s President and Board Chairman, Mohamed Amr Attaiwa, was listed as the MB’s New England Director in a phone directory from 1991. At one time, Attaiwa served as the Vice President of the Muslim American Society, which was once described by federal prosecutors as “the overt arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in America.” An admitted MB member and convicted terrorist, Abdurraham Alamoudi, has openly said that the Muslim American Society is a part of the MB.
The IRUSA’s Operations Manager (a point of contact and speaker at many IRUSA fundraisers) is Ahmed Shehata, who was one of the 21 Muslim brotherhood leaders arrested in Alexandria, Egypt in January 2009. Ahmed Shehata has liked at least eighteen pro-MB pages on Facebook as well.
Hamdy Radwan, who has served on the IRUSA’s Board of Directors since 2012 said in an interview in November 2006, that he views Hamas as a group of freedom fighters, rather than as a terrorist organization.
The IRUSA’s founder, chairman and CEO from 1993-1996, and current senior advisor to the board Ahmad Esmat El-Bendary was once the president of the Muslim American Society and currently serves on its Board of Trustees.
In addition to many of its leaders being affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, the IRUSA often has Islamist speakers at its events such as Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Suhaib Webb, the former Imam of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center, and Imam Siraj Wahaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the trial for the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.
Now comes news that the Episcopal Relief and Islamic Relief USA have renewed their partnership, which began in 2016, to “increase engagement among Christian and Muslim faith leaders…”
The partnership was aimed at ending gender-based violence in Liberia. Now Episcopal Relief has partnered with the Hamas linked organization yet again:
Episcopal Relief & Development has received a second, three-year, $600,000 grant from Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) to expand a ground-breaking partnership with the humanitarian arm of the Episcopal Church of Liberia (ECL-RD) to combat gender-based violence in Liberia. This program, which equips faith and community leaders to transform harmful cultural and religious attitudes towards women, is also supported by a grant from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, The Laura Ellen & Robert Muglia Family Foundation, and other generous donations.
How does a Christian organization justify partnering with a jihad-linked organization? And oh, the irony of working with a terrorism-linked organization to combat “gender-based violence.” The Episcopal Church should be concerning itself with helping persecuted Christians who are experiencing a jihad-driven genocide in Africa and the Middle East.
“Episcopal Relief & Development Receives $600,000 Grant from Islamic Relief USA to Expand Work to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls in Liberia,” Episcopal News Service, February 9, 2020:
Episcopal Relief & Development has received a second, three-year, $600,000 grant from Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) to expand a ground-breaking partnership with the humanitarian arm of the Episcopal Church of Liberia (ECL-RD) to combat gender-based violence in Liberia. This program, which equips faith and community leaders to transform harmful cultural and religious attitudes towards women, is also supported by a grant from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, The Laura Ellen & Robert Muglia Family Foundation, and other generous donations.
Liberia is considered one of the most dangerous countries in the world for women and children. More than 50% of Liberians live in poverty and the country has some of the highest rates globally of violence against women and girls. Violence takes many forms, including female genital cutting, child marriage and economic violence such as the denial of education. According to the United Nations, 39% of women experience physical or sexual intimate partner violence at least once in their lifetime. Faith and community leaders play a critical role in helping shape positive cultural views on gender equality.
“Women have been crucial in peacebuilding and development in Liberia, and this International Women’s Day we celebrate their economic, cultural and political achievements,” said Chiseche Mibenge, Director of Gender Initiatives for Episcopal Relief & Development. “Islamic Relief USA’s generous support for ECL-RD’s work with faith leaders to attain gender equality is an affirmation of Liberian women’s dignity and the transformative impact that the program has had on communities.”
Launched in 2015, the initial phase of the project worked to engage faith leaders in two counties, developing a gender-based violence prevention toolkit and training 84 Christian and Muslim faith leaders to speak out against violence against women and girls in their communities. The program also equipped faith leaders to more effectively support survivors of violence. Through trainings and organized events, this core group of leaders then reached out to 679 imams and priests. This second phase of the project, Scaling Up Faith Leaders Engagement to Prevent and Respond to Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG Liberia), continues the work in the initial two counties, and expands to two additional ones in order to train and equip 237 faith leaders and 360 youth leaders across 54 townships. The overall goal of VAWG Liberia is for over 28,000 women and girls to experience less intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence, and to have increased access to support services.
“Islamic Relief USA’s partnership in this program has been instrumental in shifting harmful attitudes and behaviors towards women and girls,” said Annette Musu Kiawu, the National Director for Episcopal Church of Liberia Relief & Development. “They have inspired a spirit of reconciliation in our multi-faith society and helped us to recognize the value of engaging both Christian and Muslim faith leaders to transform communities.
“Islamic Relief USA is proud of its partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development that has focused on tackling one of the most pressing issues impacting women and girls in Liberia,” said Sharif Aly, CEO of Islamic Relief USA. “Through a comprehensive, faith grounded approach, we have been able to build trust throughout communities and make significant progress towards combating gender-based violence in an oftentimes highly volatile environment.”…..