Muslim Brotherhood-Linked Charity Chief Advised U.S. Government Agencies, New Findings Show
Research from DataRepublican shows Anwar A. Khan, former head of Islamic Relief USA, sat on U.S. boards while Islamic Relief Worldwide was banned abroad for alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood
New findings from researcher DataRepublican show that the president of one of America’s largest Muslim charities held seats on U.S. government advisory bodies while its international parent organization faced bans abroad for alleged terrorist ties.
Anwar A. Khan, who led Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) for three decades until he recently stepped down in 2024, sat on advisory committees for both USAID and the State Department despite his organization's documented connections to Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW), a charity banned by multiple nations for alleged links to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood. Khan now works with another Muslim charity, the American Muslim Community Foundation.
The findings highlight a concerning pattern of U.S. government collaboration with organizations that international allies have deemed security threats.
Key Financial Connections Revealed
According to IRW's 2024 annual report, Islamic Relief USA transferred £50.4 million to Islamic Relief Worldwide, representing 18 percent of IRW's total global income. While IRW emphasizes that all members are separate legal entities reporting locally in their respective countries, this financial pipeline directly connects the U.S. charity that received federal advisory access to the internationally sanctioned parent organization.
DataRepublican uncovered that Khan served on the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACVFA), which provides input on USAID funding allocation, as well as on the State Department's Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group.
DataRepublican’s research further notes that Islamic Relief USA is a participating charity in the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the federal government’s workplace giving program. The CFC raised about $167 million in 2016, and recent campaigns have brought in approximately $70 million annually.
International Bans and Terror Allegations
In 2014, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon issued a decree banning Islamic Relief Worldwide from operating in Israel. Officials said the organization, which presents itself as a charitable agency that solicits donations from all over the world, was funneling cash to Hamas. The decision followed intelligence from the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) indicating that some of its operations in Gaza, Judea, and Samaria were run by Hamas operatives. Ya’alon described the move as part of broader efforts to disrupt funding networks and civilian infrastructure that support terrorism.
The UAE subsequently designated Islamic Relief Worldwide as a terrorist organization for its Muslim Brotherhood connections. Germany and the Netherlands also severed funding relationships with the organization over similar concerns about extremist ties.
In 2021, the State Department severed ties with Islamic Relief following controversies over anti-Semitism within the organization. The year prior, Heshmat Khalifa, then serving as the group’s chief, had resigned after reports revealed he posted anti-Semitic remarks online, including referring to Jews as “grandchildren of monkeys and pigs,” and that he publicly praised Hamas.
Muslim Brotherhood Leadership Connections
DataRepublican’s findings note that members of IRW’s original leadership were tied to the Muslim Brotherhood. Essam El-Haddad, a co-founder and former trustee of Islamic Relief Worldwide, also served as National Security Advisor to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and was a senior figure within the Muslim Brotherhood. Egyptian authorities have alleged that he used the charity to channel funds to the Brotherhood.
A Congressional hearing on July 11, 2018 also accused IRW's founder of using Islamic Relief money to fund Muslim Brotherhood terrorism in Egypt. El-Haddad has remained in custody since Morsi’s removal in 2013. Another founder, Hany El-Banna, gave a 2016 interview to Al-Aqsa Voice, the official radio station of Hamas, where he spoke about IRW’s long-standing work in Gaza.
Ongoing International Operations
DataRepublican found that despite the international bans and allegations against Islamic Relief Worldwide, Islamic Relief USA has continued working with UNRWA in Gaza, including a $2.4 million contribution in 2018. Israeli authorities have indicated that UNRWA staff were directly involved in the October 7 attacks. IRUSA also collaborates with various UN agencies, including UNICEF and UNDP.
Current Status and Questions
The case raises significant questions about the adequacy of vetting processes for federal advisory positions and the depth of Muslim Brotherhood influence in U.S. foreign policy decision-making. As DataRepublican revealed, IRUSA has maintained access to federal advisory boards and continued participation in workplace giving programs, even as IRW’s global network has faced bans, funding cuts, and scrutiny for its leadership’s Islamist ties. This contrast underscores the risks of allowing organizations with documented Muslim Brotherhood connections to shape U.S. foreign aid and policy.