Author: Michael P. Tremoglie
Publication: FrontPageMagazine.com
Date: June 4, 2003
Beleaguered British MP George Galloway
may have another problem, in addition to be investigated by his own Labour
Party for a possible relationship with Iraqi intelligence. Now the British
government has frozen the assets of a Muslim charity with links to Galloway.
BBC News reported that the UK has
frozen the assets of the Al-Aqsa Foundation charity because of suspected
links to Muslim terrorists. British Chancellor Gordon Brown gave the order
to have the Treasury freeze any British assets of Al-Aqsa. Although the
charity does not maintain an office in the UK, Gordon's order is part of
the international effort against terrorism.
The Al-Aqsa Foundation is a charity,
like the Holy Land Foundation, which purportedly provides aid to the needy
in Muslim countries. However, like the Holy Land Foundation and the Benevolence
International Foundation, Al-Aqsa is suspected of furnishing funds to Muslim
terrorists.
Galloway has been a guest of Al-Aqsa's
South Africa office in Fordsburg, which is alleged to be the home of Hamas'
South African Branch. Other visitors to Al-Aqsa South Africa include Ismail
Adam Patel who is the leader of Friends of Al-Aqsa in the UK, and the UK
supporters of Al-Awda, which is part of the Palestinian Right to Return
organization and former Taliban official Nizamuddin Shamzai.
Galloway's affection for the Palestinians
and Muslim organizations is no secret. According to a March online edition
of the Muslim Association of Britain, Galloway received a standing ovation
from guests at an Islamic Relief fundraiser for Iraq in Glasgow's Central
Mosque. During his speech, Galloway praised the Muslim community. He was
quoted as thanking the Muslim community for "filling him with hope"
and Galloway stated, "I wish your lobbying and campaigning activities well."
Galloway was a speaker at a Justice
in Palestine conference in July 20, 2002, given by The Councils of Muslim
Theologians, Friends of Al-Aqsa (UK) and the Al-Aqsa Foundation of South
Africa. The conference was "to create awareness and show the parallels
that exist in the Occupied Lands of Palestine and Apartheid South Africa
as well as give insights into the historical and political understanding
of the conflict."
Galloway also spoke at a pro-Palestinian
rally on April 13, 2002. The Muslim Association of Britain and the Friends
of Al-Aqsa Foundation organized the rally. He has spoken at many other
pro-Palestinian rallies since. However, Galloway's relationship to Palestine
is more than just political. He is married to Aminah Abu-Zayyhad, a niece
of PLO chief Yasser Arafat.
Galloway, who has been a Member
of Parliament since 1987, was a Senior Vice Chairman of the Labour Party
Foreign Affairs Committee. Before his election to parliament, Galloway
arranged for the city of Dundee, Scotland to become a sister city with
the Palestinian town of Nablus. The Dundee City Hall was the first western
city to fly the Palestinian flag because of Galloway efforts. He also prevented
NATO ships from being greeted by the city.
As a major player in the anti-Iraq
war movement in Britain, Galloway became involved in a suspicious arrangement
with Iraq. In April, after the capture of Baghdad, Iraqi documents were
found which referenced Galloway receiving annual pay-offs of 375,000 pounds
sterling from the oil-for-food program. Since Galloway was so involved
with the anti-Iraq war movement, he is suspected of helping to finance
anti-war activities using Iraqi intelligence funds. In fact, the British
newspaper the Daily Telegraph states they have a copy of a confidential
memo from Iraqi intelligence that Galloway wanted to be paid more than
he was.
During his anti-war protestations,
Galloway urged British troops to mutiny if they received orders to invade
Iraq. He has criticized both President Bush and Prime Minister Blair. Galloway
has accused them of lying about how long the Iraq War would last, claiming
that it would be months or years.
Considering Galloway's involvement
politically, professionally, financially and personally with pro-Palestinian
and pro-Iraqi organizations, he could conceivably be the first British
Member of Parliament from the Middle East. The Labour Party should ensure
they complete their investigation soon before the United Kingdom becomes
a Caliphate.
(Mr. Tremoglie is a former Philadelphia
police officer, and now a health-care consultant and freelance writer living
in Philadelphia.)
