Source: Edmonton Journal, January 12, 2006, p. A5
Original title: Charity sues Day over terror-link accusation
TORONTO – A registered charity is suing Conservative foreign affairs critic Stockwell Day for allegedly accusing the group of raising funds for the terrorist organization Hamas.
The International Relief Fund for the Afflicted and Needy, which says it has contributed to aid projects in Indonesia, Palestine and Guyana, alleges it was defamed at a news conference held by Day and two other defendants in Ottawa in November 2004, according to a statement of claim. The claim was filed Sept. 22, 2005, in Toronto, but wasn’t served to Day until Jan. 4 in Penticton, B.C., said Naseer Syed, a lawyer for the non-profit organization.
“Mr. Day was not easy to serve and he wasn’t co-operating,” Syed said in an interview. Contacted while campaigning in his Okanagan- Coquihalla riding Wednesday, Day acknowledged he had been served legal papers with respect to the lawsuit, but would not go into detail on the allegations. Day said talks have been ongoing for more than a year and suggested a settlement may be imminent. The $12- million suit alleges Day, Alastair Gordon and Naresh Raghubeer accused the charity of fundraising for Hamas and abusing its charitable status.
