Virginia Court Orders American Muslims for Palestine to Surrender Records in Terrorism Financing Investigation

A Virginia court ordered American Muslims For Palestine (AMP) to turn over documents as part of a State investigation into the group, which is suspected to be affiliated with terrorist organizations.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has announced that he will launch an investigation in October 2023 into allegations that AMP may have “used funds raised for non-permissible purposes, including providing support or benefiting terrorist organizations under state law.”

Virginia law requires that every organization file a registration statement at the Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner. The statement must contain the following language: “No money has been used or will be used, either directly or indirectly, for terrorists, terrorist groups, terrorist activities, or family members of terrorists.”

It also states that “no person shall be registered by the Commonwealth or any locality to solicit funds intended to benefit terrorists, terrorist groups or terrorist activities.”

Adam Kredo, a Washington Free Beacon journalist, reported that the court ordered AMP’s disclosure of donor records and financial transaction data to continue its investigation.

American Muslims for Palestine was founded in 2006. It claims to be a group “dedicated” to the advancement of the movement for justice for Palestine through educating the American Public about Palestine and its rich historical, cultural, and religious heritage, and grassroots mobilization and advocacy.

A lawsuit has been filed against the organization by survivors of Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel, which took place on October 7, in which terrorists killed over 1,000 Israelis. Plaintiffs accuse the group of acting “as collaborators, and propagandists” for Hamas.

The lawsuit claims that AMP used propaganda to “intimidate, convince and recruit uninformed and misguided college students” to act as foot soldiers for Hamas.

Plaintiffs claim that Hamas uses similar language in its materials. According to the lawsuit, NSJP praised the October 7, 2001 attack in one of its “toolkits”.

Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 civilians in the attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and held more than 200 hostages. Some are still in captivity. The two organizations named in this suit distributed an “NSJP Toolkit”, which contained coordinated “resistance materials”. The suit claims that the two organizations are part of a “unity Intifada.”

The toolkit states: “Today we witness a historic victory for the Palestinian Resistance. Our people have broken through the artificial barriers created by the Zionist entity. They have taken down the façade of a seemingly impenetrable colony of settlers and reminded us all that the total return to Palestine and its liberation is close.” As the Palestinian Student Movement, we are under an unshakeable obligation to join the mass mobilization call. Glory to our resistance, our martyrs, and our steadfast people.

The lawsuit also claims that AMP was “founded from the ashes” of organizations disbanded by Hamas senior officials after these organizations and their related individuals had been found criminally and legally liable for material support provided to Hamas or other affiliated terrorist organizations.

The plaintiffs seek damages for the harm caused by AMP’s “intentional, systematic and substantial assistance” to Hamas’ international terrorism.