In the statement, the CEO of FNB Commercial Banking Michael Vacy-Lyle said, “It has come to the banks attention that the foundation is expressly listed by the US Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and other international sanctions lists. The listing of the Foundation had been verified with reference, inter alia, to the addresses contained in the listing documents.”
The statement reiterated, “the international financial community impose stringent obligations in respect of the maintenance of banking relationships with entities listed by OFAC and the decision by FNB to terminate its relationship with the foundation is a consequence of this fact alone. The account in question will be closed with reasonable notice.”
Earlier Ebrahim Fakoodie, a spokesperson for the Al Aqsa Foundation told Radio Islam, he felt Al Aqsa has been unfairly associated with the other Al Aqsa organisations and have offered FNB Commercial an open invitation to scrutinize Al Aqsa’s books; conduct random checks and visits. “But I think they’ve maintained their position that they wanted us to close the account,” said Fakoodie.
“They think that the Al Aqsa Foundation is one. One company, one entity. But there are various Al Aqsa Foundations. So we have given them that reason to say that we have nothing to do with other Al Aqsa’s because we have got atleast 60 to 70 organsations called Al Aqsa around the world, “added Fakoodie.
The closure of Al Aqsa Foundation’s bank account by FNB Commercial has caused uproar.
One organization that has voiced its outrage at FNB’s non-chalant actions is the Media Review Network (MRN). In the statement Iqbal Jassat said, “The Media Review Network deplores FNB moves to close the banking account of Al Aqsa Foundation of South Africa.”
MRN said it views the move by FNB Commercial as morally indefensible, unethical and utterly Islamophobic. “We therefore find it extremely troubling that given Al Aqsa’s dedicated commitment to providing much needed humanitarian aid to the besieged population of Palestine, such arbitrary action on the part of FNB undermines SA Muslims charity destined to the victims of Israel’s unjust occupation and persecution,” said the statement.
The statement also said MRN finds it contemptible that FNB would subject its banking arrangement with a Muslim NGO to the dictates of faceless “foreign” agents, despite Al Aqsa being granted an annual clean bill of health by the Department of Social Services in South Africa.
MRN has called on the South African government to make an urgent intervention by contesting the US Treasury Departments malicious political battles on behalf of its ally Israel.
Meanwhile Al Aqsa Foundation reassured donors that the closure of the FNB accounts would not affect their day-to-day operations and their offices will continue to provide assistance and relief to the people and land of Palestine.
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