Donations for Gaza

Terror investigations disguised as financial proceedings?

The humanitarian aid organization Rahma Austria provides food and water in the Gaza Strip, but also helps in other regions.

(Bild: AFP or licensors)

Breach of trust and financial offences - these are the accusations against a Muslim aid organization on paper. Just a pretext to continue investigating Rahma Austria for terrorism financing, lawyer Andreas Schweitzer is certain - although these proceedings have long since been discontinued. 

930 police officers stormed homes and association facilities across Austria on November 9, 2020. One hundred suspects were investigated in Operation Luxor on terrorism charges - the majority of the investigations have already been closed. This includes the proceedings against Rahma Austria, a Muslim aid organization. 

Further terror investigations under cover of embezzlement?
Nevertheless, investigations are continuing because "among other things, Rahma Austria is suspected of having committed embezzlement and financial offenses", reveals Andreas Schweitzer, who has already represented the association in the terrorism proceedings and other defendants in the Luxor case. However, the lawyer does not see the motivation of the public prosecutor's office in disclosing embezzled donations: "In my opinion, they are trying to circumvent the blocking effect of discontinued proceedings. To now place Rahma Austria under this suspicion is a pretext to investigate further."

If you dig deep enough, you will find something.

Anwalt Andreas Schweitzer vermutet Hintergedanken in dem neuen Ermittlungsverfahren.

Schweitzer is certain that it will be in the direction of terrorist financing - even though the proceedings have already been discontinued. Under the motto: "If you dig deep enough, you will find something," says the defence lawyer for Taher Hassan, the chairman of the donation organization. In his role, he is now at the center of the investigation into embezzlement and financial crimes.

Tactics used to catch donors off guard
The actions of the police have had serious consequences for the association for years: "We have lost many donors because we were presented in the media as if we were criminals and terrorists. The damage to our reputation remains." And it is precisely these donors who are now being considered as witnesses in the new proceedings.

Lawyers Leonhard Kregcjk (left) and Andreas Schweitzer (center) with the chairman of Rahma Austria (right).

(Bild: Sophie Pratschner)

Here too, Andreas Schweitzer and his colleague Leonhard Kregcjk sharply criticize the investigators: "Someone knocks on the door of families in the morning who are getting ready for school and work. They look at how someone lives, what someone does. They pretend you're a witness, but you get the feeling that you're the subject of the investigation yourself," says Kregcjk, who represents five suspects. 

"This approach is not in line with the way investigations are anchored in the Code of Criminal Procedure," says Schweitzer. Because what the current proceedings should actually be about: donations that were used to pay the electricity bills of people who were actually already receiving state support; flights financed by charitable income and other donations used inappropriately.

Donations flow into the Gaza Strip
700 donors, primarily with a migration background, are to be interviewed here. Rahma Austria chairman complains: "They are trying to denounce us as Muslims. The work continues, but every year something is added that makes it more difficult or delays it." The humanitarian aid organization is active in Europe, Africa and Asia. And also in the Gaza Strip, where it provides food and fresh water. With up to 35,000 donors, Rahma Austria collects around four million euros a year. Chairman Taher Hassan: "In the end, I just want to say what we have to do in Austria so that we can continue our work without any problems."