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Saudis Combat Terror Accusations, Set Up New Charity Body

Saudi Arabian authorities are establishing a new body to manage charities and relief work for Muslims outside the kingdom, according to the Middle East News Agency.

The organization’s activities will correspond with the Shari’a, the Islamic law, which requires reaching out and assisting fellow Muslims, but its intention is also to cleanse the reputation of Saudi charities, frequently accused of funding terror.

King Fahd Bin ‘Abd Al-‘Aziz Al Sa’oud ordered the establishment of the new organization, called the Saudi Civil Council for Relief and Charity Work Overseas.

A selected group of people, known for their “expertise, integrity and good reputation” in the charity line of work will found and run the new body, according to a royal announcement made on Saturday.

FBI agents recently raided the Oregon offices of Al-Haramain, a large Saudi charity organization, confiscating computers and monetary documents. Senior members of the organization maintained the reason for the intrusion was tax-related, and refuted accusations of the authorities that the organization was assisting in funding terror.

Saudi Arabia has more than 230 charity organizations which raise about $267 million annually, according to the Al-Jazeera website.