International Islamic Relief Organization

The International Islamic Relief Organization, formerly known as the International Islamic Relief Organization of Saudi Arabia and now identified in reference material as the International Organization for Relief, Welfare and Development, is a Saudi-based humanitarian and development organization affiliated with the Muslim World League. It was formed by the Muslim World League in 1978, with the establishment receiving approval through a Saudi royal decree dated January 29, 1979. Its work has covered emergency assistance, social welfare, community development, healthcare, education, engineering and seasonal programs, including Qur'an-related educational activities. The organization has operated across a wide geographic area spanning the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. Its assistance has included support for people affected by disasters, poverty and displacement, as well as construction and rehabilitation of community facilities such as schools, clinics and other infrastructure. It has also undertaken projects in partnership with United Nations agencies, the World Health Organization and other intergovernmental and nongovernmental bodies. The organization has been listed among major nongovernmental partners associated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and has participated in joint programs with agencies including UNICEF, the World Food Programme and UNHCR. Institutionally, the organization has held consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 1995. It has also been associated with the International Islamic Council for Da'wah and Relief, held observer status with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and became the first Islamic nongovernmental organization to obtain observer status with the International Organization for Migration. It has been a full member of the Conference of NGOs and has served on that body's board. Earlier affiliations also included the International Humanitarian City in Dubai and links with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The organization became the subject of extensive scrutiny after the September 11 attacks, particularly concerning its former branches in the Philippines and Indonesia and allegations involving individuals associated with militant organizations. The organization has consistently denied supporting al-Qaeda or any terrorist group and has disputed claims concerning its former employees and branch operations. In 2014, the United Nations Security Council committee removed the Indonesian and Philippine branch offices from its al-Qaeda sanctions list following a delisting process handled through the UN Ombudsperson. The United States Treasury Department subsequently removed those branch offices from its designation list in 2016. The available reference material states that neither branch was prosecuted by Philippine or Indonesian authorities. The organization's later public profile emphasizes humanitarian cooperation. In 2014, under its newer name, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to establish a framework for assistance to Palestinian refugees. Its historical scale of activity included thousands of projects in dozens of countries, although the supplied sources do not establish a current budget, leadership roster or precise present-day operating structure. It should therefore be understood primarily as an international relief and development organization rather than as a consumer-goods brand.

The organization was created by the Muslim World League in 1978 as an international Islamic relief body. A Saudi royal decree issued on January 29, 1979 approved the Muslim World League's decision to establish it, formalizing its institutional standing in Saudi Arabia. The organization became affiliated with the Muslim World League while developing an international network for relief, welfare and development work. Its activities expanded beyond short-term disaster response. The organization operated programs for social welfare, community development, seasonal assistance, emergency relief, healthcare, education, engineering and Qur'an memorization or da'wah-related education. Engineering work supported the construction or improvement of facilities and infrastructure, while welfare and educational programs addressed community needs in countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and South America. The organization also participated in projects with WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR, the World Food Programme and other partners. One documented example of its disaster work was assistance to communities affected by the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, including areas that were difficult to access. The supplied historical data records 2,258 projects in 81 countries during 2003 and 2004, benefiting approximately 4.59 million people. A later reporting period, 2012–2013, covered 1,294 projects in 58 countries and approximately 7.06 million beneficiaries. These figures describe historical reporting periods and should not be treated as current operating or financial statistics. The organization also developed formal relationships with international institutions. It obtained consultative status with ECOSOC in 1995, became the first Islamic NGO to receive observer status with IOM, and participated in the Conference of NGOs. It was also connected with the International Islamic Council for Da'wah and Relief, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and other Islamic and humanitarian institutions. After the September 11 attacks, allegations focused on the organization's former branches in the Philippines and Indonesia. Critics and investigators alleged that former personnel or local operations had diverted charitable resources toward militant organizations, including al-Qaeda-linked groups and Abu Sayyaf. Separate allegations concerned the organization's activities in Albania and claims that individuals connected to Egyptian Islamic Jihad worked through charitable structures. The organization denied that it, its branches or its personnel had supported terrorism, challenged the accuracy of the allegations and emphasized its humanitarian mandate. The supplied reference material notes that the claims concerning the two Southeast Asian branches did not result in prosecutions by Philippine or Indonesian authorities. The UN Security Council listed the Indonesian and Philippine branches in 2006. After delisting petitions were submitted and reviewed through the UN Ombudsperson mechanism, the relevant sanctions committee removed both branch offices from the UN al-Qaeda sanctions list on January 6, 2014. Related European and United Kingdom listings were also removed, according to the reference material. The United States Treasury delisted the two former branch offices on August 16, 2016. These developments distinguished the historical allegations and designations involving local branches from the organization's continuing denial of institutional wrongdoing. By 2014 the organization was publicly using the name International Organization for Relief, Welfare and Development. That year it signed a memorandum of understanding with UNRWA to renew and intensify cooperation supporting Palestinian refugees, including people affected by the Syrian conflict. The available material does not provide a verified current executive roster, current headquarters address, current budget or a definitive account of its present operational footprint.

1. 2016United States delisting

   The United States Treasury removed the former Philippines and Indonesia branches from its designation list.

   Source
2. 2014UN delisting and UNRWA cooperation

   The two former Southeast Asian branches were removed from the UN sanctions list, and the renamed organization signed an assistance cooperation agreement with UNRWA.

   Source
3. 2006Branch offices designated

   The United States and United Nations took action against the organization's former Philippines and Indonesia branches amid terrorism-financing allegations.

   Source
4. 2005Pakistan earthquake response

   The organization provided assistance in earthquake-affected Pakistani areas, including isolated communities.

   Source
5. 1995ECOSOC consultative status

   The organization obtained consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

   Source
6. 1979Saudi royal approval

   A royal decree dated January 29 approved the Muslim World League's decision to establish the organization.

   Source
7. 1978Organization established

   The Muslim World League formed the organization as an international Islamic relief body.

   Source

A faith-affiliated international relief and development organization focused on humanitarian assistance, welfare provision, community infrastructure and educational support across crisis-affected and low-income communities.

• Emergency Relief ProgramHumanitarian assistance

  Provides assistance in response to disasters, conflict and acute humanitarian need. Historical activities included support after the 2005 Pakistan earthquake and operations in communities that were isolated or difficult to reach.

• Community Development and Seasonal Projects ProgramCommunity development

  Supports longer-term community initiatives and seasonal relief activities. Projects have been carried out across multiple regions and may include local welfare, livelihood and community-support infrastructure.

• Health Care ProgramHealthcare assistance

  Provides medical and health-related support as part of the organization's broader relief portfolio, working through humanitarian projects and cooperation with institutional partners.

• Educational Welfare ProgramEducation support

  Supports educational welfare and related community services, including assistance connected with schools and educational facilities in areas served by the organization.

• Engineering DepartmentInfrastructure development

  Handles engineering and construction-related elements of relief and development work, including the development or rehabilitation of community facilities and infrastructure.

• Holy Qur'an and Da'wah ProgramReligious education

  Supports Qur'an memorization and related religious and educational activities within the organization's Islamic welfare framework.

• 2014Palestinian refugee assistance cooperation

  Palestine · Syria

  The renamed organization signed an agreement with UNRWA to create a framework for mutual cooperation in assisting Palestinian refugees, including refugees affected by the Syrian conflict.

  Source
• 2005Pakistan earthquake relief

  Pakistan

  The organization assisted victims of the 2005 earthquake, including people in affected areas that were isolated and difficult to access.

  Source

• 2014Adopted the International Organization for Relief, Welfare and Development nameStrategy

  The organization was subsequently identified in public material by a name emphasizing relief, welfare and development rather than its former International Islamic Relief Organization designation.

  What changed. It operated or presented itself under the International Organization for Relief, Welfare and Development name, also rendered as Welfare in the reference material.

  Aftermath. The renamed organization entered a cooperation framework with UNRWA for assistance to Palestinian refugees.

  Source
• 2014Pursued delisting of former Southeast Asian branchesOther

  The former Philippines and Indonesia branches had been placed on UN sanctions lists amid allegations linking them to al-Qaeda-associated activity.

  What changed. The organization pursued removal through petitions reviewed by the UN Ombudsperson and the Security Council sanctions process.

  Aftermath. The UN committee removed both branches from its list in January 2014; related European and UK listings were also removed according to the reference material.

  Source

• 2006Allegations concerning Philippines and Indonesia branchesControversy

  After the September 11 attacks, investigators and commentators alleged that former personnel and local branch structures in the Philippines and Indonesia had been used to channel support to militant organizations. The organization denied the allegations and disputed claims about the role and status of particular employees. The branches were designated in 2006 and later delisted through UN and US processes.

  Source
• 1998Allegations concerning activities in AlbaniaControversy

  The organization was mentioned in allegations that individuals connected with Egyptian Islamic Jihad obtained employment or support through Islamic charitable structures operating in Albania. The supplied reference describes investigations and arrests of Egyptian Islamists but does not establish a criminal judgment against the organization itself.

• 2014IIROSA and UNRWA establish cooperation framework

  The organization, then identified as the International Organization for Relief, Welfare and Development, signed a memorandum of understanding with UNRWA to coordinate assistance for Palestinian refugees.

  Other
  Source

1. International Islamic Relief Organization