Indiana University Indianapolis told eight state representatives that its Muslim Philanthropy Initiative is no longer working with the Istanbul-based Hayat Yolu Association, which the U.S. Treasury Department designated last month as a “sham charity” that supports Hamas.
The state lawmakers wrote to the public school last month expressing “grave concern” about the initiative collaborating with the association on training programs last July and in January.
Andrew Ireland, a Republican state representative and one of the signatories of the letter, said on April 6 that “after our letter demanding answers, Indiana University confirmed its Muslim Philanthropy Initiative partnered with and accepted travel benefits from a Hamas-linked ‘sham charity.’”
Ireland said that the public research school has agreed to halt all training and new partnerships, overhaul its processes of vetting and oversight, and “rein in and restructure” the initiative in another part of the school. It was previously part of the philanthropy school.
“These are good first steps, but there is more work to do,” he stated.
