Ties to Sanctioned Charity Spark Outcry
Indiana University has permanently terminated its Muslim Philanthropy Initiative after an investigation confirmed collaborations with a charity designated by the U.S. Treasury for supporting Hamas. The program, part of the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, faced scrutiny for organizing training sessions with the Hayat Yolu Association, an Istanbul-based group sanctioned in March for funneling funds to Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades.
The Treasury Department designated Hayat Yolu as part of Hamas' "international fundraising network," accusing it of directly supporting the terrorist organization's military wing. The Muslim Philanthropy Initiative had publicly thanked Hayat Yolu for its "generous support" in its annual report, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
History of Controversy at IU Program
State representative Andrew Ireland (R.), a former Indiana deputy attorney general, led calls for the program's closure after the report surfaced. "A taxpayer-funded institution should never legitimize entities tied to terrorism," Ireland stated Monday. "This decision upholds accountability and national security priorities."
Internal records show Hayat Yolu reimbursed initiative executive director Shariq Siddiqui for travel expenses to conferences in Istanbul and Jakarta, where Islamic nonprofits received training on fundraising and management. Hayat Yolu Deputy Director Ahmad Abu Adam described these events as efforts to "enhance capabilities" of partners in Indonesia using "latest research-based techniques."
The initiative had previously drawn criticism in 2022 for hosting Sami Al-Arian, a former professor deported after pleading guilty to conspiring with Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Dean Amir Pasic later admitted the school had failed to properly vet speakers. The program counted leaders from Islamic Relief USA and the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding among its advisory council members until its dissolution.
Indiana University did not respond to requests for comment. The closure marks a significant setback for efforts to formalize Muslim philanthropy networks in the U.S., which the initiative claimed aimed to "transform" charitable practices domestically and internationally.