This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/2401
September 22, 2006
To: National and State Desks
Contact: Ihsan Al-Khatib, 313-903-1124 or [email protected]
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Sept. 18 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Life for Relief and Development (LIFE), an American humanitarian relief organization based in Southfield, Michigan is continuing its efforts to provide emergency humanitarian aid to the needy despite the surprise raid of its headquarters today.
Agents from the FBI and IRS executed search warrants today for financial and other records. Although the agents were very courteous and professional, the raid came as a total shock and surprise to the staff and officers of LIFE. LIFE has repeatedly engaged law enforcement officials and invited various government agencies to visit and inquire about LIFE's humanitarian work and the details of its operations. LIFE has previously hosted an open house for federal and state law enforcement agencies to explain the details of LIFE's work. In addition, LIFE always welcomed visits and inquiries from government agencies and/or departments, and places a high priority on transparency and adherence to all appropriate legal guidelines. LIFE was one of the very few American organizations licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department to do humanitarian relief in Iraq during the embargo period.
Federal agents assured the LIFE staff on Monday that it could continue to operate as an organization and maintain its humanitarian work, which LIFE intends on doing. The federal agents also assured the LIFE staff that the search warrants had nothing whatsoever to do with any terrorism-related matter.
Commenting on this surprise incident, Dr. Khalil Jassemm, CEO of LIFE, said, "This came as a total shock to us because we've always strived to engage law enforcement agencies and inform them of our work." He continued, "We will nevertheless continue our cooperation with the appropriate agencies and hope that we will overcome this unfortunate incident."
LIFE is still operating and maintaining its ongoing humanitarian work worldwide, uninterrupted. For more information, please contact the LIFE office at the number listed above, or 800-827-3543, or by visiting the website: http://www.lifeusa.org
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LIFE provides medical and relief supplies to civilian populations around the world, without regard to race, color, creed, or ethnic origin.
This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/2401