Islamic Relief Worldwide has told its supporters that it is “not leaving” America after expelling its US affiliate from its international network.
IRW has also clarified that the US organisation, which has changed its name, is no longer associated with the Islamic Relief brand, programmes or global delivery network.
This follows a resolution passed by the IRW’s International General Assembly earlier this month, which removed the US affiliate – at the time called Islamic Relief USA – from the federation with immediate effect.
The US body told IRW last year that it planned to end their partnership after IRUSA was threatened by US authorities with the removal of its non-profit status due to concerns about its connections with IRW.
This was followed by the filing of a lawsuit from IRUSA against the UK-based IRW, which sought a judicial order to cancel all remaining contracts and operational links with IRW.
The US organisation accused IRW of trying to solicit donations from US donors, which IRUSA claimed violated brand licensing agreements, and said IRW had falsely claimed that IRUSA had abandoned hundreds of sponsored orphans by cancelling their aid benefits.
IRW rejects the claims.
The court proceedings were put on hold in July, when a judge told the two sides to pursue a contractual dispute resolution process.
IRW’s International General Assembly, which consists of representatives elected from member countries across the globe, later announced IRUSA’s expulsion, meaning it would no longer have the right to operate or trade using the Islamic Relief name or assets.
The US organisation has since rebranded, changing its name to Islamic Development & Empowerment in America.
IRW said it was aware of the US organisation’s name change, saying: “For the avoidance of any doubt among partners, donors and the public: this rebranded entity is operating outside the Islamic Relief federation.
“It is not part of the Islamic Relief brand, programmes or global delivery network,” the charity said.
This network is only available to Islamic Relief member organisations and their approved partners, the charity said, adding that “any suggestion to the contrary should be verified with Islamic Relief Worldwide and its member countries directly”.
IRW added: “To the many supporters in the US asking what this means for them: Islamic Relief is not leaving America.
“On behalf of the whole federation, Islamic Relief Worldwide remains fully committed to continuing the amazing journey it started in the 1990s when its founders established IRUSA.”
IDEA’s website claims it “outgrew” its name, saying its rebrand was “an evolution of the identity, not a departure from the history”.
It says: “Islamic Development & Empowerment in America, or IDEA, names the uniquely American Muslim roots the organisation was built on and the work it does today.”
The FAQ page on the US charity’s website says that, despite the name change, it remained the same legal entity, with the same leadership and teams.
In response to a question about its departure from the Islamic Relief network, the website says the US organisation was “consistently confused with UK-based Islamic Relief Worldwide by government regulators and institutional partners”.
It says: “The new name settles that: it states the distinct American identity plainly and removes the ambiguity, so the humanitarian mission carries on without it.”