JEDDAH, 23 October 2004 — The International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) has set up special counters to collect zakah and donations for iftar meals in a bid to prevent charity money from reaching suspected Al-Qaeda militants.

The IIRO counters will help donors give their money with confidence after reports that some extremist elements were using the money to bankroll terrorist operations. IIRO officials give coupons with serial numbers while receiving money.

Ahmed Al-Abdaly, director of the organization in Madinah, said the new method would prevent forgery and the money from reaching suspicious hands.

IIRO, an affiliate of Muslim World League, publishes reports of its revenues and expenditures on various charitable projects.

The new move came after some suspected militants confessed to investigators that they used to collect money for terrorist operations by selling iftar coupons.

A high-level security source last week cautioned citizens and foreign residents against purchasing iftar coupons, saying the money could end up in terrorist hands.

“It has been proven that some members of the deviant group collected big amounts of money by selling (vouchers) for fast-breaking meals in mosques and elsewhere,” said a security source in reference to suspected Al-Qaeda sympathizers.

In a press statement last week, Education Minister Dr. Muhammad Al-Rasheed also said that he would not allow collection of donations from schools and colleges that seek to exploit the sensibilities of the holy month of Ramadan.

Saudi Arabia has clamped down on suspicious money as part of a frontal assault on Al-Qaeda militants blamed for a string of terror attacks, which have killed around 100 people and wounded hundreds in the past 18 months.

Red Crescent Iftar Meals

The Saudi Red Crescent Society has worked out a plan to distribute 400,000 iftar meals during Ramadan, especially among drivers and passengers at traffic points.

The meals will also be distributed along expressways and at hospitals.

The meals, which are given in cooperation with the mobile iftar project, include a bottle of water, a bottle of juice, a packet of dates and a perfumed towel.

“The move aims at preventing drivers from speeding to reach their destination to break fast,” the society said.