Virginia’s Attorney General, Jason Miyares, has announced the opening of an investigation into the AJP Educational Foundation, Inc., also known as American Muslims for Palestine (AMP).
The probe aims to determine if the organization has violated Virginia’s charitable solicitation laws and if funds raised were used for impermissible purposes, potentially benefiting or supporting terrorist organizations.
This investigation comes at a time of heightened tension between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. While the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) criticizes the probe, citing concerns about targeting Muslim and Palestinian American organizations, the Attorney General’s Office remains committed to upholding the law and ensuring transparency in charitable activities.
“The Attorney General’s Office has reason to believe that the organization may be soliciting contributions in the Commonwealth without first having registered with the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. In addition, the Attorney General will investigate allegations that the organization may have used funds raised for impermissible purposes under state law, including benefitting or providing support to terrorist organizations,” said Miyares in a release Wednesday.
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One of the primary focuses of the investigation is to determine if the AJP Educational Foundation, Inc. has been soliciting contributions in Virginia without registering with the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The purpose of Virginia’s charitable solicitation laws, which mandate this registration requirement, is to safeguard donors and ensure openness in nonprofit organizations’ fundraising efforts.
In addition to registration violations, the Attorney General’s Office is investigating allegations that the AJP Educational Foundation, Inc. may have used funds raised for impermissible purposes under state law.
This includes the possibility of funds being directed towards supporting or benefiting terrorist organizations. The investigation aims to uncover any evidence or financial irregularities supporting these allegations.
The timing of this investigation is significant, as it coincides with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Israel-Hamas conflict has sparked worldwide debates and heightened tensions, with various organizations and individuals taking sides and expressing their views on the matter.
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