Questions in re charitable purposes
Mohammed Khan made this Official Information request to Department of Internal Affairs
The request was refused by Department of Internal Affairs.
From: Mohammed Khan
Dear Department of Internal Affairs,
Kindly direct this to Charities Services.
I have a few questions in regards the definition of 'charitable entities' and 'charitable purposes' as understood by Charities Services. In the FY2023 financial statements/audit report for CC51659, the 'Effective Charitable Trust', the following 'charitable entities' are listed as receiving funding.
1) 'Sanford C Bernstein Co LLC': This is a wealth management advisory firm. Is this considered a 'charitable entity' by Charities Services?
2) 'Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund': According to a Ha'aretz investigation in May 2021, titled 'American Jews, Stop Funding Jewish Terrorism', this organization has been used as a conduit to provide funding to 'Israeli' settler terrorist groups which attack the native Palestinian population in Jerusalem and other areas of Palestine. Is this considered a 'charitable purpose' by Charities Services?
3) 'Foundation for Defense of Democracies': According to November 2019 reports in Al-Monitor and other newspapers, this anti-Muslim think tank operates, among other things, a lobbying arm directed at the American government. Is subverting the foreign policy of governments with which New Zealand's government has friendly relations considered a 'charitable purpose' by Charities Services?
4) 'American Zionist Movement Inc.': this organization provides funding to the 'World Zionist Organization'. According to a March 2015 report by the Jewish Daily Forward, 'Zionist Group’s Vote Could Bare Israel’s Secret Funding of Settlements', the Settlement Division of this organization is "a covert cash box for bankrolling [illegal] settlement activity" by providing loans and other services to illegal settlers in the zionist-occupied West Bank of Palestine. Is funding illegal settlements considered a 'charitable purpose' by Charities Services?
Kind regards,
Mohammed Khan
From: SDO Official Correspondence
Department of Internal Affairs
Tçnâ koe Mohammed,
Thank you for your OIA request to the Department of Internal Affairs.
The Department will provide its response to your request as soon as
practicable and within twenty working days. The 20^th working day is 7
March 2024.
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Ngâ mihi
Krystle Courtier| Official Correspondence Co-ordinator
Te Pâhekoheko, Kâwai ki te iwi | Operations, Service Delivery and
Operations
Te Tari Taiwhenua The Department of Internal Affairs
[1]www.dia.govt.nz
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From: SDO Official Correspondence
Department of Internal Affairs
Tēnā koe Mohammed,
Please see attached for the response to your Official Information Act 1982
request.
Ngā mihi,
Vi Saena| Official Correspondence Advisor
Te Pāhekoheko, Kāwai ki te iwi | Operations, Service Delivery and
Operations
Te Tari Taiwhenua The Department of Internal Affairs
7 Waterloo Quay, Wellington
[1]www.dia.govt.nz
References
Visible links
1. http://www.dia.govt.nz/
From: Mohammed Khan
Dear SDO Official Correspondence,
Sorry, I am rather confused as to your response.
Are wealth management advisory firms considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?
Are conduits for terrorist groups considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?
Are Islamophobic hate groups considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?
Is illegally invading Palestinian land considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?
Yours sincerely,
Mohammed Khan
From: CCRegistrationinfo
Department of Internal Affairs
Kia ora Mohammed,
Apologies for the delay in our response. If you wish to make a formal complaint regarding the Effective Charitable Trust please contact the Charities Services’ Investigation Team at [email address] outlining your concerns and providing any evidence you wish for us to assess.
Further information on what are considered charitable purposes are available on our website here: https://www.charities.govt.nz/ready-to-r... charitable-purpose/
Charities Services is a risk-based regulator, and we investigate concerns of serious wrongdoing and significant breaches of the Charities Act 2005 (the Act). An inquiry into a registered charity will generally only be initiated where we receive a complaint and evidence is provided that indicates possible serious wrongdoing under the Act. We cannot justify taking any regulatory action without adequate evidence to support any concerns of possible serious wrongdoing.
Ngâ mihi,
Ngâ Ratonga Kaupapa Atawhai | Charities Services
Te Tari Taiwhenua | Internal Affairs
Direct: 04 382 4007 | Freephone: 0508 242 748
PO Box 12138, Thorndon, Wellington, 6011
http://www.charities.govt.nz/ |Follow us on Facebook
-----Original Message-----
From: Mohammed Khan <[FOI #25664 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2024 9:05 AM
To: SDO Official Correspondence <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Official Information Act
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Dear SDO Official Correspondence,
Sorry, I am rather confused as to your response.
Are wealth management advisory firms considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?
Are conduits for terrorist groups considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?
Are Islamophobic hate groups considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?
Is illegally invading Palestinian land considered to advance charitable purposes by Charities Services?
Yours sincerely,
Mohammed Khan
-----Original Message-----
Tçnâ koe Mohammed,
Please see attached for the response to your Official Information Act 1982 request.
Ngâ mihi,
Vi Saena| Official Correspondence Advisor Te Pâhekoheko, Kâwai ki te iwi | Operations, Service Delivery and Operations
Te Tari Taiwhenua The Department of Internal Affairs
7 Waterloo Quay, Wellington
[1]http://www.dia.govt.nz/
References
Visible links
1. http://www.dia.govt.nz/
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