Indiana University has closed its Muslim Philanthropy Initiative following an internal review of the program’s relationship with an overseas organization later sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

Sanctioned Organization

The university’s decision follows months of scrutiny over the initiative’s partnership with Hayat Yolu, an organization the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated in March as part of what federal officials described as Hamas’ international fundraising infrastructure.

State Rep. Andrew Ireland, R-Indianapolis, who led a group of eight Indiana lawmakers calling for an investigation into the partnership, said the university made the correct decision by ending the program.

“Indiana University made the right decision by closing the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative,” Ireland said. “A taxpayer-supported university should never lend its name, expertise or credibility to an organization connected to the financial network of a terrorist group.”

Previous Controversy

The Hayat Yolu controversy was not the first time the initiative faced questions about its vetting process. In 2022, the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative hosted a program featuring Sami Al-Arian, who previously pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to provide services to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.